CHICAGO – Five Indiana men have been charged with felony mob action, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property for their roles in an attack Saturday on a group dining at a Tinley Park restaurant, a spokeswoman for the Cook County State’s Attorney said Monday morning.

Bails ranging from $175,000 to $250,000 were set for the five men at the Bridgeview courthouse.

Charged were John Tucker, 26, of Martinsville, Ind.; Cody Sutherlin, 23, of Bloomington, Ind.; Dylan Sutherlin, 20, and Jason Sutherlin, 33, both of Gosport, Ind.; and Alex Stuck, 22, of Bloomington, Ind., Cook County State’s Attorney spokeswoman Sally Daly said.
Jason Sutherlin’s bail was set at $250,000, and Cody Sutherlin’s at $200,000. The other three all were set at $175,000. Jason Sutherlin had a previous felony conviction for a burglary charge, prosecutors said. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but eight years were suspended. Cody Sutherlin and Dylan Sutherlin each was charged with operating while intoxicated in Indiana, prosecutors said.
The public defender asked for a “reasonable” bond for the five men, but Cook County Circuit Court Judge Terence B. Smith noted the attacks were unprovoked and the perpetrators wore masks.
More charges may be filed later, pending the investigation, Daly said.  Their next court date is June 12.  “There are a lot of people we’re still talking with,” she said.
The attack took place at The Ashford House, 7959 W. 159th St., about 12:45 p.m. Saturday.
The offenders fled in three vehicles.  One vehicle containing the five men was caught about five minutes later at 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue, about four miles from the restaurant.

Police found evidence in the vehicle, including two expandable batons, a knife, a pair of gloves and several dark-colored hooded sweatshirts, prosecutors said.
In court, the prosecutors said the defendants believe that group to be a white supremicist group.
Tinley Park police said in a news release that a group of 15 to 18 people dressed in black entered the restaurant and started the altercation with a specific group of people. Approximately 10 people were injured, and three were taken to local hospitals.
Police believe this was an isolated incident and not a random act.
Restaurant owner Mike Winston has said property damage repairs will cost $10,000 to $15,000.   The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force is assisting Tinley Park police with the investigation.  (read more)

A group calling itself the “Anti-Racist Action Group” took credit for the targeted beating. They left this on their website:

On Saturday, May 19th a group of 30 anti-fascists descended upon Ashford House restaurant in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park where the 5th annual White Nationalist Economic Summit and Illinois White Nationalist Meet-and-Greet was taking place. The White Nationalists were targeted inside the restaurant and physically attacked, causing several injuries and completely shutting down their meeting. The anti-fascist group was privy to anonymous inside information. This fascist event had been in secret planning for six months. The attendees have attempted to cover up the true intent of the event with mainstream media reports initially reporting the white nationalist conference as a wedding party and then as an Irish heritage meeting. The event was advertised on www.stormfront.org, an established white nationalist fascist internet forum.

Here’s how the Anti-Racist Action Group describes itself:

A.R.A is a network of regular people, together to solve a problem. We intend to do the hard work necessary to decrease racism, sexism, anti-gay bigotry, anti-racism, and the unfairness which is often suffered by the disabled, the youngest, the oldest, and the poorest of our people. We confront hatemongers like the KKK and other white supremacists. Every Time they come out we want to be there. We won’t stand by and watch these terrorists recruit. No dues, No commitment. Just a chance to change the world. Do it for the victims. Do it for the children. Do it NOW before it’s too late.