Community Corner

Caledonia Man Arrested in Chicago on Weapons Charges

Michael Yocco, who was in Chicago to protest NATO Summit, was arrested after police say they found knives and ammunition in his care.

A 28-year-old Caledonia man who was in Chicago to protest the NATO Summit is facing three weapons charges after police said they found knives and ammunition in his car.

Michael Yocco is charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of ammunition without a Firearm Owner’s Identification card, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Yocco, of 4541 Carter Drive, was arrested Saturday after Chicago police officers stopped the car he was in and found knives and ammunition inside, the newspaper said.

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He and another man were wearing militia outfits and flying anarchist flags from the car, Sun-Times reported. The other man was not charged.

However, Channel 4 and Channel 6 ran a story where Yocco said the officers were wrong and had conducted an illegal search, that he wasn't wearing a militia uniform and that he was just shooting video of the protest for the "We Are Change" Milwaukee, a citizen journalism group. Yocco also posted his own explanation of what happened on YouTube.

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This isn't Yocco's first run-in with the law.

Yocco and his brother, Christopher Yocco after police said they threatened one another with weapons as they fought over cigarettes. However, the Racine County District Attorney's office never issued charges.

Michael Yocco also was charged with burglary in 2001, but the case was dismissed.

The Sun-Times said Chicago police had made 19 protest-related arrests as of 3 p.m. Sunday.


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