New Lenox man making Nazi salute shouted ‘white power’ at Black children: cops

A New Lenox man allegedly threw up a Nazi salute and shouted “white power” at three Black children who were sitting in a car parked outside the Nelson Road Walgreens, police said.

The children’s mother left them in the car while she went inside the 466 Nelson Road store Thursday evening, New Lenox Police Chief Louis Alessandrini said.

While they were waiting, 37-year-old Justyn Giarraputo pulled alongside them in his vehicle, made a Nazi salute and shouted the racist remark, police said.

The mother of the children arrived in time to see Giarraputo and his vehicle, and she provided descriptions of both to police, Alessandini said. Police also obtained store surveillance video, he said.

Officers then tracked down Giarraputo, and “based on our conversation with him, we were able to present a case to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office,” Alessandrini said.

The state’s attorney’s office approved a felony hate crime charge, Alessandrini said, and Giarraputo was arrested.

“That sort of stuff is not going to be tolerated in New Lenox,” Alessandrini said. “What he did went above and beyond free speech.”

Giarraputo was booked into the Will County jail shortly before 10:30 p.m. Friday, records show. He was scheduled to appear in court Saturday morning, according to jail records.