Three Illinois men have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, accused of plotting to masquerade as police officers during the "No Kings" protests—a series of demonstrations critical of former President Trump's administration. According to NBC Chicago, Jonathan Capp, Andrew Knight, and Cole Sarros, were charged on Monday in DuPage County with conspiracy to impersonate a peace officer, a Class 4 felony, and unlawful possession of ammunition without a FOID card, a misdemeanor.
Dressed to resemble members of law enforcement, these three men, aged 22 to 26, were found carrying both 9mm and .223 caliber ammunition—all without the necessary state-issued Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards. When arrested by local police, the triad had fake flash bangs and lighter fluid, as well as tactical gear that aroused suspicion among observing officers. The Elmhurst Police Department, credited with preventing whatever may have played out had they infiltrated the protest, reported finding an airsoft rifle and a handgun that lacked federally required orange tips, with FOX 32 Chicago mentioning a camouflage mask was also part of their guise.
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean both emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust and safety, especially during times of political expression and peaceful assembly. "Impersonating a peace officer is a serious crime that not only erodes public trust, but also has the potential to put legitimate officers at risk, particularly at a political protest," Berlin said in a statement obtained by NBC Chicago. Thanks to due diligence, the trio was intercepted before they reached any of the No Kings protest sites.
Swiftly after being charged, Capp, Knight, and Sarros were released pretrial, as the nature of the charges is not deemed detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T Act. As a condition of their release, however, all firearms, ammunition, or other dangerous weapons were ordered to be surrendered to the Elmhurst Police Department. Their next court appearance is scheduled for November 17. Elmhurst Police Chief McLean told FOX 32 Chicago, lauding his department's "swift and professional response," and added, "Our department is committed to protecting the rights and safety of all residents, including during peaceful assembly."
