Police in Illinois Recovered Bombs From This Man’s Vehicle, And That's Not All ...

The QAnon, tinfoil hat suspect is in custody after allegedly planning to spark a Civil War… literally.

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Image for article titled Police in Illinois Recovered Bombs From This Man’s Vehicle, And That's Not All ...
Screenshot: Pekin Police Department

Last month, police in Illinois found a firearm and homemade bombs in a man’s car. That wasn’t even the most alarming part. Later, an investigation revealed a series of far-right conspiracies including plans to start a Civil War.

Let’s start from the beginning: Police in Pekin, Illinois pulled over 34-year-old Dalton Mattus on May 17 for a traffic violation, according The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Central Illinois. They eventually initiated a search of the vehicle after spotting something suspicious: a bag underneath his seat closed with a padlock. Police told 25 News Now that Mattus objected to the search of the vehicle, repeatedly locking the car doors to prevent their inspection.

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After the cops asked what was inside the bag (and also the syringes they located near it), Mattus told the officers they needed a search warrant to continue snooping. Within a matter of hours, officers obtained the warrant. Though, we’re not sure they were prepared for what they were about to find.

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Read more from Rolling Stone:

Police took the bag and let Mattus go, then obtained a warrant from a judge and opened the bag inside city hall. There, they found a .45 caliber pistol and two homemade pipe bombs rigged with BBs, evacuated the building, and called in a bomb squad from neighboring Peoria, according to local reports.

Police then went to his home and engaged in a brief standoff before arresting Mattus, according to local media. There, police say, they found three more pipe bombs.

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Authorities haven’t disclosed Mattus’ motive for making the homemade explosives besides his claim he was protecting himself from “undocumented immigrants and a corrupt government.” However, a Rolling Stone probe into his social media revealed a series of far-right, QAnon, “Stop the Steal” and other Trump-inspired conspiracies dated back to 2016. As recently as last year, the magazine discovered a TikTok video where Mattus spouted an anti-government threat.

“To everybody that is disgusted with the way our government is being ran. There needs to be, like, a call to arms. Something needs to happen… now,” he said in the video obtained by Rolling Stone.

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Mattus is currently charged with unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon and unlawful possession of explosives. A judge ruled he will remain in custody at Tazewell County Jail until his next court hearing after prosecutors argued he may pose a threat to public safety, per 25 News Now.

Prosecutors told Rolling Stone they may consider additional charges upon investigating the far-right content. These same conspiracies and ideologies are what led to the fatal January 6 insurrection. Could we expect more of this if we end up in Trump’s America once again?