On Monday, August 20, 2014, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office assisted with a Sterling, IL, Police Department-initiated vehicle pursuit. After Stop Sticks were deployed on the roadway, the suspects were taken into custody without injury.
After narrowly avoiding being run down, a Sheriff’s Deputy discharged his duty weapon at the suspect vehicle. Statements from the vehicle’s occupants confirmed the driver stated, “I’m going to have to hit this guy.”
A handgun was located in the vicinity of where the driver fled after the vehicle came to rest. The driver acknowledged that he disposed of the handgun, which was found by Police.
Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi has requested the Illinois State Police conduct the investigation into this incident. The Sheriff’s Deputy is on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation and subsequent review by Whiteside County State’s Attorny Trish Joyce.