CHICAGO _ State terrorism charges were approved in connection with a man accused of driving into Woodfield Mall last week, authorities announced on Sunday.
Javier Garcia, 22, of the 1300 block of North Geneva Drive in Palatine was charged with the Class X felony of terrorism, defined as causing more than $100,000 in damage to any building containing five or more businesses, according to a news release issued by Sgt. Karen McCartney of the Schaumburg Police Department. He also was charged with a second felony, criminal damage to property of more than $100,000, she said.
Garcia had been at the Amita Health Behavioral Medicine Institute until Friday, when he was released into the custody of Schaumburg police, she said.
A week earlier, patrons and store employees at Woodfield Mall feared they were under attack when an SUV careened into the mall near Sears, sending panicked shoppers running, though no one was seriously injured in the incident.
Investigators believe the man was acting alone and they have not yet determined the reason he allegedly drove into the mall on Sept. 20. Authorities said they have no reason to believe he was targeting any specific person or store within the mall, according to the news release.
After completing their investigation, detectives contacted the Cook County state's attorney's office, which approved the charges, McCartney said.
Garcia was expected for a bond hearing in court Sunday, she said.
