The Brief A Plainfield man is charged with hate crime counts after allegedly using a racial slur against a 9-year-old boy in Naperville. Prosecutors say he pushed the child and threw his bicycle during the June 13 incident. The suspect was released with GPS monitoring and a no-contact order while the case proceeds.



A Plainfield man has been charged with a hate crime after authorities said he directed a racial slur at a 9-year-old boy in Naperville, pushed him and threw his bicycle during a confrontation earlier this month.

The backstory:

Jeffrey Feigenbaum, 29, was charged with two felony counts of hate crime, along with misdemeanor charges of battery and disorderly conduct.

According to authorities, Naperville police responded Saturday to a disturbance in the 1400 block of West Jefferson Avenue involving reports that an adult white man had pushed a Black child and called him the N-word.

Investigators allege the incident began after a group of children built a fort in the neighborhood. Police said a girl later identified as Feigenbaum's girlfriend's daughter damaged the fort. The victim, a 9-year-old boy, then went to a nearby home on West Jefferson Avenue and knocked on the door.

Prosecutors allege Feigenbaum came outside, yelled the racial slur at the boy, pushed him and threw the child's bicycle as he ran away.

What they're saying:

 The allegations against Mr. Feigenbaum are very disturbing,  DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.  Hate crimes have no place in a civilized society. 

As part of his release conditions, Feigenbaum must surrender any guns, ammunition and other dangerous weapons to the Naperville Police Department.

His next court appearance is scheduled for July 13 before Judge Daniel Guerin.

#fox32chicago   #crimewatchchicago