GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A man charged after a confrontation with police in Waupaca a month ago was charged Monday with obstruction for actions during a protest this weekend in Green Bay – where he allegedly had smoke grenades and what police called a flame thrower.
Matthew Banta, 23, made his initial appearance Monday in Brown County court. Bond was set at $2,500 cash . He returns to court Sept. 9 for a balance of initial appearance.
Besides the misdemeanor obstruction charge, he also faces felony bail jumping counts.
According to the criminal complaint, Banta was part of a group marching downtown in what had been declared an unlawful assembly. Banta was part of a group of four individuals with wooden bats and an “antifa” flag. He ignored commands from police to stop, but eventually was arrested.
“Matthew was brought to the front of my squad, where Matthew was identified as “Commander Red” from an informational bulletin sent out through department email. Matthew is known to be a violent Antifa member who incites violence in otherwise relatively peaceful protests. As Matthew was under arrest for Resisting arrest, I began searching him incident to arrest. While searching him, I located two “military grade 5 minute” smoke grenades. I also located in his bags on his person two firework rockets that had “Apache” printed on them. Also located in the same bag a bundle of bottle rockets banded together with plastic wrap, a flamethrower with a propane tank was found inside. Medical bags containing miscellaneous medical equipment and antifa stickers, belt with pouches containing rocks. Also taken from Matthew as evidence was his; Antifa flag, empty green bag, metal helmet, and metal scraper,” the complaint states. “Matthew stated that he was going to the protest, but denied that he was trying to incite a riot. Matthew also denied knowing that the protest was declared an unlawful assembly.”
Banta disputed the description of the flamethrower in court. He called it a tool, a “hand torch,” without a propulsion system.
Banta has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday in Waupaca County.
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