3 Men Charged After Local News Crew Attacked Near Adler Planetarium, Chicago Police Say
Police say the attack included racial slurs, smashed equipment and a hate-crime charge for one suspect.
- On Monday, three men confronted a CBS Chicago news crew near the Adler Planetarium, yelling racial slurs and directing a dog to attack journalists. Police arrested William Huerta, 41, Rafael Salinas, 29, and Jon Twist, 37, following a vehicle pursuit.
- The confrontation began just before 4:30 p.m. when suspects approached in a white tow truck. When the dog failed to attack, one man became irate and smashed the news van's windshield while another destroyed camera equipment, authorities said.
- Officials confirmed late Wednesday that all three face felony charges: Twist is charged with hate crime and criminal damage to property; Salinas faces aggravated battery of a peace officer; Huerta faces felony fleeing and eluding counts.
- Following the attack, officers tracked the suspects to Brighton Park, where a brief pursuit ended when their truck crashed into a police squad car. Authorities arrested all three men and recovered a high-powered rifle from the vehicle.
- All three suspects are scheduled for detention hearings on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Records show Twist previously served time for kidnapping, while Huerta was sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for aggravated battery with a firearm.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Man Charged With Hate Crime In Attack On CBS2 News Crew; 2 Others Held
CHICAGO — Three men charged with attacking a CBS2 reporter and photographer near the Adler Planetarium are a “serious threat” to public safety, prosecutors said in court Thursday — and a judge agreed, ordering each to remain in custody. Jon Twist, 37, was charged with two felonies — a hate crime and criminal damage to property — and a misdemeanor count of resisting a police officer. Rafael Salinas, 29, was charged with felony aggravated battery …
3 arrested after brazen attack on TV news crew leaves vehicle damaged, broadcast equipment destroyed
Authorities have arrested three individuals who attacked a CBS News reporter and photographer near the Adler Planetarium in Chicago on Monday, June 29. The incident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. on the 900 block of East Solidarity Drive. The crew was in the spot, “preparing to go on the air during the 4 p.m. newscast,”...
Three Arrested After Mob Attacks News Crew Doing Live Report - The American Tribune.com
Local law enforcement authorities arrested three individuals after a group physically assaulted a CBS Chicago news crew near Adler Planetarium on June 29, 2026. While the crew was preparing to do a newscast, two men started yelling racial slurs at one of the journalists, then rushed toward them and attempted to direct a dog to attack the victim. The suspects then smashed the windshield and camera of the crew’s news van. The rest of the equipment…
Chicago Sun Times
Usa newsMen face hate crime, assault charges in attack on CBS news crew
Charges were filed against 41-year-old Chicago Ridge resident William Huerta, as well as Chicago residents Rafael Salinas, 29, and Jon Twist, 37, in connection with the attack, police said.
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