Police and federal authorities recovered an explosive substance, ammunition and an illegally possessed gun from a Harvard man who allegedly made social media threats to use a homemade explosive device.
Evan G. Fazio, 24, of the 1400 block of Northfield Court in Harvard, was charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon, misdemeanor possession of a firearm without a FOID card and two counts of misdemeanor possession of firearm ammunition without a FOID card.
The Harvard Police Department received a report around 7:20 a.m. Monday that Fazio was possibly making and in possession of homemade explosive devices, according to Harvard Deputy Police Chief Tyson Bauman.
Police learned that the man allegedly made social media threats about setting off the devices at unspecified locations, Bauman said.
The person who tipped off police also said that Fazio may be in possession of a gun and ammunition despite him having a revoked Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID).
“A multi-jurisdictional investigation was immediately conducted with the assistance of Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the assistance of McHenry County Animal Control and the Harvard Fire Protection District,” Bauman said.
“The scene which was located in the 1400 block Northfield Court has been deemed secure and safe. At no time were residents in the area in danger,” Bauman said.
Police declined to release what they recovered from Fazio’s apartment but court records show they found a container that had an explosive substance in it, a 9mm pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun shell and numerous 9mm handgun rounds.
“Defendant knowingly manufactured and possessed a container containing an explosive substance for like purposes, such as, but not limited to, black powder bombs and Molotov cocktails or artillery projectiles,” Harvard Police Sgt. Andrew Spielman said in a criminal complaint filed in court.
Fazio was transported to the McHenry Count Jail where he remains held on a $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.