A man has been arrested for driving his vehicle thru the door of a proposed women’s health clinic in Danville in an effort to burn it down.
73 year old Philip Buyno of Prophetstown man has been arrested and charged with terrorist threat, burglary, conspiracy to commit arson, attempted arson and criminal damage to property in excess of $10,000. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office are investigating the incident that took place Saturday.
Deputy Chief Josh Webb says due to coordinating efforts with federal authorities Danville police will not be releasing information about the incident.
According to a court filing by Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy, Buyno “intended to cause and created a risk of death or great bodily harm by using his vehicle as an incendiary device to burn down the building” at 600 N. Logan Ave. The filing also states Buyno drove a vehicle loaded with flammable material into the building, intending to damage the building by fire. His bond was set at $500,000.
The damaged building used to house Dillman Eye Care. It was sold in March to an Indianapolis based Clinic for women that provides abortions. That news met with protests by anti-abortion groups, and on May 4 the city council passed an ordinance that would ban the shipment of abortion pills and other items intended for abortions. The vote was a 7-7 tie with Mayor Rickey Williams breaking the tie.
City officials say they had yet received an application for a permit from the buyer to renovate the building.
