Elkhart man charged with injuring State Trooper with explosive device during Fort Wayne protest

FORT WAYNE, Ind.- Indiana State Police say the man who was suspected of injuring an Indiana State Trooper during a Fort Wayne protest in May has been taken into custody.

Juan Pablo Gonzalez, 43, was arrested Saturday night.

According to a press release, a trooper was injured by a male protester that deployed an explosive device against officers. The explosion caused serious bodily injury to the trooper, who was transported to a local hospital.

The trooper was treated and released later that night. The trooper has since been able to return to duty.

At the time of the incident, officers were not able to make an immediate apprehension of Gonzalez. According to the press release, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Task Force and ISP worked together to positively identify Gonzalez as their suspect earlier this week.

Saturday night Gonzalez was walking along Clinton Street near Friemann Square, participating in a protest in downtown Fort Wayne, when FWPD recognized him as the suspect in the earlier officer assault.

Gonzalez was detained without incident and has been booked into custody.

Gonzalez remains held pending an initial hearing on four felony charges and two misdemeanors, including battery committed with a deadly weapon, battery against a public safety official engaged in official duty and rioting.