Chief Eric Echevarria Provides Update to Community Regarding Anti-Violence Initiative 2022

In keeping with departmental transparency, the following summarizes the results of last night's efforts:

Approximately 40 vehicle stops were conducted, resulting in several citations and numerous warnings. 16 arrests were made, and many illegal narcotics were seized. 5 weapons were seized, 28 tickets were issued, 3 vehicles were impounded, 18 written warnings were issued, 1 DUI arrest, and a substantial amount of currency was seized.

Below is a brief synopsis of major incidents during the detail.

· Sheridan / Russell St.: At approximately 2:00 p.m. Officers attempted to make a vehicle stop at the above intersection for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old Daires M.

Randle continued to drive the vehicle at a slow rate of speed despite police commands to pull over. The vehicle eventually came to a complete stop in the 1200 block of Ellis. Randle exited

the vehicle and resisted arrest, but he was eventually taken into custody. During the arrest, officers located illegal drugs in his possession. Randle was arrested and charged with Possession

of Cannabis with Intent and Fleeing / Eluding Police. He was transported to the Peoria County Jail. PPD Incident # 22-6969.

· MLK and Sterling: At approximately 5:38 p.m. Illinois State Troopers conducted a vehicle stop for a traffic violation. During the stop, officers had probable cause to conduct a search of the

vehicle. While officers were conducting the search, the passenger fled from the scene. During their search, officers discovered a loaded "Ghost" gun with an extended magazine inside the

vehicle. A short time later Peoria Police located the 17-year-old suspect hiding inside an apartment building. The juvenile was taken into custody and turned over to ISP. He was charged

with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and transported to JDC. The driver of the vehicle, an adult female was arrested for Obstructing Police and transported to the Peoria County Jail.

· 2400 blk of W. Malone: At approximately 6:51 p.m. Officers observed a suspect wanted for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Obstructing charges (#22-6745). The suspect, identified as 28-

year-old Ivan D. Ellis, was taken into custody without incident. Ellis was found to be in possession of a large amount of Heroin. At 11:14 p.m. a search warrant was executed at a residence in connection with this incident. During the search, police located and seized 1 firearm, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. Ellis was transported to PCJ for gun and drug charges. PPD Incidents # 22-6745, #22-7018.

· 2100 blk. of N. Bourland Avenue: At approximately 7:06 p.m. Peoria Police attempted a vehicle stop at the intersection of Griswold and Grinnell. Officers observed three male occupants

inside the vehicle. One of the occupants was known to officers to be wanted by the Peoria Police Department for prior incidents. The vehicle did not stop and fled from officers. Peoria Police,

along with members of the Illinois State Police Air Operations Team, continued to follow the suspect vehicle. Officers observed the three occupants flee from the vehicle on foot in the 2100 block of N. Bourland Avenue. After a brief foot pursuit, police successfully apprehended all three subjects. One of the suspects discarded a loaded weapon during the foot pursuit and it was recovered. Another suspect broke out the basement window of a nearby residence and discarded a gun inside. The loaded weapon was later recovered by police. All three suspects were taken to the Peoria Police Department for interviewing purposes and subsequently arrested and transported to the Peoria County Jail.

The following individuals were arrested in connection to this incident:

- 28-year-old Auston Wood - Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by Felon, Armed Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Street Gang

Member, Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, and Resist/Obstruct Police

- 28-year-old Jacobi Turner-Claudin - Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Resist/Obstruct

Police

- 22-year-old Romon Douglas-Watkins - Resist/Obstruct Police

- Federal charges are also pending. This case is still under investigation.

- PPD Incident # 22-7008.

· 800 blk. of W. Thrush: At approximately 8:47 p.m. officers responded to the listed address regarding a 911 call of people fighting. When officers arrived, they observed a large crowd of

people actively fighting. Officers attempted to break up the fight but were unsuccessful. Officers had to deploy pepper balls to disperse the crowd. Officers did locate a 17-year-old juvenile down

and unresponsive. It was later determined that the juvenile was struck during the fight. The juvenile did regain consciousness while on scene and was later transported to a local hospital. One adult and two juveniles were arrested and charged with Mob Action with Injury and Aggravated Battery. Members of PPD's Special Investigations Division (SID), Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Patrol Operations, Detail Operations, Peoria County Sheriff's Office, and ISP responded to the scene. PPD Incident # 22-7014.

· 2800 blk. of W. Ann: At approximately 10:49 p.m. members of the Peoria Police Department's Special Investigations Division (SID) heard several shots fired near Manual High School. A Shot

Spotter alert was reported in the 2800 blk of W. Ann. Officers then observed 29-year-old Jerrell L. Hardges walking on the southside of the high school. As police approached Hardges he fled

on foot but was quickly taken into custody by officers. Hardges was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. Hardges was transported to the Peoria Police Department for interviewing

purposes and subsequently arrested for Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Handgun, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a

Felon, and Resisting Arrest. PPD Incident # 22-7017.

· Additional Information: During this detail there were 2 ShotSpotter alerts. (1 with an arrest and recovery of a weapon)

Message from Chief Echevarria

"I would like to thank all of the Peoria Police Officers as well as the Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Air Operations, and Illinois State Police SWAT for their participation in yesterday's Detailed Patrol. As I stated early, I will use every available law enforcement tool to combat the violence in this city, and we intend to continue to do so until it stops. We will also continue to find new and creative ways such as our Walk and Talks to continue to build positive relationships with our community. We need the communities help in continuing to eradicate violence in our community."