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Officers use Taser to stop man from running into traffic on I-64

BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN

News-Democrat

When a man ran into oncoming traffic on Interstate 64 Wednesday afternoon, an officer with a Taser may have saved his life.

The 59-year-old St. Charles, Mo., man spotted Illinois State Police Trooper Nate McVicker and ran from him, right into fast-moving traffic eastbound on Illinois 64 in East St. Louis.

The man, whose name was not released, was running because he believed his relatives had sent police to capture him and take him to a psychiatric institution, according to a St. Clair County Sheriff's Department report.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Trice responded to McVicker's call for assistance and when Trice arrived, he yelled at the man to stop.

The man refused to stop and instead ran into the path of a tractor-trailer. Trice ordered the man again to stop, and when the man kept going, Trice fired a Taser to stop him from being hit by the oncoming truck, according to the report.

The Taser caused the man to fall to the ground and stopped the man from getting hit but he still attempted to crawl away from police and into traffic as McVicker attempted to handcuff him. The man was detained after receiving another shock from the Taser.

When Trice searched the man, he found prescriptions for medication from a psychiatrist. The prescriptions had not been filled.

The man was taken to the Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital in East St. Louis for evaluation.

Contact reporter Jennifer A. Bowen at jbowen@bnd.com or 239-2667.

Man Tasered at St. Clair County Building

BY BETH HUNDSDORFER

News-Democrat

A man who police said carried marijuana into the St. Clair County Building last week received a shock -- literally.

Damon Lawson, 29, of 1711 N. 45th St. in East St. Louis, went to the metal detectors near the first-floor courtrooms at 9:45 a.m. April 8 and was asked to remove items from his pockets before passing through the metal detector.

The metal detector sounded and Bailiff Josh Pea searched Lawson, feeling items in his front pocket, said Sheriff's Capt. Steve Johnson. Pea removed the items and found a plastic bag containing marijuana, Johnson said.

Lawson pushed Pea, then ran toward the courthouse exit near Washington Street while Pea called for him to stop. Lawson ran into a St. Clair County employee, who fell into a computer terminal, Johnson said, but Lawson continued to run.

Pea used his Taser to strike Lawson in the back and applied the shock, which brought Lawson to the floor, Johnson said. Then Pea and Bailiff Calvin Savage placed Lawson in handcuffs.

Lawson was charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting a police officer and possession of cannabis. He was released on $7,500 bail.

Lawson came to the courthouse to appear on prior felony charges of escape and residential burglary.

"It baffles the imagination that people show up to the courthouse, knowing they are going to be searched, and bring knives and marijuana," Johnson said. "This was an example of the courthouse's security trying to keep contraband out of the courthouse and keep the environment safe."

Sheriff K-9 catches gun suspect in thick brush

News-Democrat

CAHOKIA --

A police dog recently captured a man carrying a loaded handgun in Parkfield Terrace near Cahokia, police said.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Biggs and his canine, Jesse, were in Parkfield Terrace searching for a shooting suspect about 7 p.m. Wednesday. Biggs noticed a man walking on Illinois 157 near Laura Lee Drive.

When the man saw Biggs' patrol car, he ducked between two houses on Laura Lee Drive, Capt. Steve Johnson said. Biggs called for assistance, so deputies John Pegg and Russ Taylor came and saw a man standing in the front yard of 49 Laura Lee Drive.

The man ran to a vacant house on Judith Drive, then ran through yards to Amelia Drive and entered thick brush, Johnson said. Biggs released Jesse, who went 30 feet into the brush and became aggressive.

"Officer Biggs heard 'I give up' and a man walked out of the brush with his hands up," Johnson said.

A search of the area turned up a .25-caliber handgun with a round in the chamber and two rounds in the magazine.

Marcus Orr, 20, of 9 St. Lambert Drive in Cahokia, was not the suspect Biggs was seeking in connection with the shooting, but did have an active traffic warrant.

Orr was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. His bond was set at $10,000.

Telephone Solicitation Scam

Sheriff Mearl J. Justus is alerting the citizens of St. Clair County to beware of a telephone solicitation scam. Our citizens are being contacted by telephone and asked to make a contribution to the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. The phone solicitor explains to those being contacted that they are soliciting rural residents on behalf of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. They are requesting donations in the amount of $20.00, $30.00 or $40.00. It is believed the calls are originating from the State of Florida.

Citizens are advised to ignore any call they receive, from any organization

claiming to represent the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. Sheriff Justus reminds the citizens of St. Clair County that the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association NEVER solicits by telephone.