On 01-14-09 at about 1:00 PM an emergency call came into Cencom in reference to a disturbance in front of 15 Violet Drive in unincorporated Cahokia (Parkfield Terrace). While Deputies and Investigators were responding the caller called back and said they now heard gunshots being fired. Deputies arrived within 6 minutes and Deputy Andrew Leach saw a black male subject run from behind the residence. Dep. Leach pursued the subject as he ran into the back door of the residence. The subject tried to hide under a bed in a back bedroom. Dep. Leach arrested him for obstructing a peace officer. The subject:
Had two felony warrants for his arrest for probation violation and unlawful use of weapon. He was also charged with obstructing a peace officer. He is being held in the St. Clair County Jail on a $21,000.00 bond.
While Dep. Leach was in the residence, another black male subject ran from near the residence and through an alleyway. Deputies who were responding to the call saw him and gave chase. The subject was ordered to stop but refused. Dep. Brian Cregger chased the subject and caught him several blocks away on Amelia Drive. He was identified as:
He was arrested and charged with obstructing a peace officer and transported to the county jail. He posted bond later that night.
During the arrest of Garner a subject was at a nearby residence and began inciting other people in the area to obstruct the Deputies’ official performance in arresting the subject who ran. Inv. Scott Toth recognized the person and knew he was a gang member who had an active warrant. He continued to agitate a crowd of people and Inv. Toth attempted to arrest him but he ran into a residence on Amelia. Inv. Toth and Deputies pursued him into the residence and arrested him in the front room. The subject:
Was arrested for obstructing a peace officer and a misdemeanor traffic warrant. He is currently in the St. Clair County Jail on $2,500.00 bond.
During the original investigation near 15 Violet, several spent shell casings were found on the ground and Touchette Regional Hospital called and said a subject had been admitted into the ER with a gunshot wound. Investigators responded to the ER and determined the 19 year old subject had been shot through the top of his foot and the bullet exited out the bottom of his foot. The subject was deceptive in his answers as to what had occurred. He refused to cooperate and did not want Investigators to pursue the investigation. He was treated and released from the hospital but was taken to jail because he had an active bench warrant (misdemeanor) for his arrest. He remains in the jail infirmary today on a $4,000.00 bond.
“We may never know what truly happened during the incident but it shows the dangers Deputies face everyday even while just responding to a disturbance call,” said Capt Steve Johnson.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Captain Steve Johnson
Chief Investigator
Criminal Investigation Section
