GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A man charged with misdemeanor obstruction in connection with a protest in Green Bay — where he allegedly had smoke grenades and what police described as a flame thrower — was ordered Wednesday to stand trial.
Matthew Banta, 23, also faces felony bail jumping charges after the Aug. 29 incident. Arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 19.
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.
According to the criminal complaint:
“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.
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 a previous hearing. He called it a tool, a “hand torch,” without a propulsion system.
Banta also faces multiple charges in Waupaca County after a confrontation with police there during an Aug. 1 demonstration. He has pleaded not guilty, and returns to court Dec. 14 for a status conference.
The Brown County bail jumping charges are related to the conditions of bond set in the Waupaca County case.
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