Palatine man charged with planting incendiary device at store

A Palatine man has been arrested after the Cook County Bomb Squad had to be called into a grocery store earlier this month to disarm a homemade incendiary device authorities said he planted there.

Using phone records and video surveillance tapes from nearby stores, authorities identified the suspect as 36-year-old Victor Guzman-Salinas, of the 1500 block of North Silver Lane in Palatine.

Guzman-Salinas, who police say briefly worked at the grocery store, has been charged with attempted aggravated arson and possession of an incendiary device. His bond was set at $90,000 Thursday by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kay Hanlon. Guzman-Salinas has to post 10 percent to be released.

Around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, Palatine police were called to the La Rosita grocery store on the 1100 block of Dundee Road on reports of a suspicious package on a shelf. Police found a liquid-filled plastic jar with a cell phone and wires taped to it.

The building was evacuated and the Cook County Bomb Squad rendered the device inoperative. Palatine Police Cmdr. Kurt Schroeder said the liquid was some sort of accelerant, and that the device was sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for analysis.

"They said it had potential to do damage," Schroeder said.

Police said Guzman-Salinas worked at the grocery store for about one week in 2008. Josefina Perez, who identified herself as the owner's daughter, clarified the man only sought employment. He was a given a couple days to show off his skills as a butcher, but never officially hired, she said.

Guzman-Salinas provided a verbal and written statement confessing to the crime, police said.

"(Guzman-Salinas) said he thought it would be interesting to see what happened," Schroeder said.

Guzman-Salinas is due back at the Rolling Meadows courthouse on Nov. 18.