On Monday, February 13, 2017, at approximately 3:06 p.m., Morrison Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Emily F. Sanders, age 25 of 405 Clinton Court, Morrison, IL. The traffic stop occurred on Portland Avenue (IL Route 78 South) at Academic Drive and was for a stop sign violation. Sanders was arrested pursuant to an Arrest Warrant issued by Cook County, IL, charging Sanders with Aggravated Driving Under the Influence (Alcohol) and No Valid Driver’s License. No Bond was allowed on the warrant. Sanders was issued a written warning for the traffic offense and transported to the Whiteside County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Cook County.
As a result of the traffic stop and a subsequent investigation, Morrison Police learned that Sanders’s fiancé, Benjamin J. Bartlestein, age 28 of 405 Clinton Court, Morrison, was also wanted on two separate warrants: Jackson County for Failure to Appear–Driving Under the Influence (Alcohol) with a $10,000 bond and Will County for Residential Burglary with a $300,000 bond.
At approximately 5:35 p.m., Morrison Police, with the assistance of the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, attempted to serve the warrants at the residence. The investigation revealed that Bartlestein may be “armed and dangerous.” At the residence, Bartlestein would not immediately cooperate with the Morrison Police, and Whiteside County S.W.A.T. was then requested. At approximately 8:10 p.m., Bartlestein surrendered to law enforcement without incident. Bartlestein was transported to the Whiteside County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Will and Jackson Counties.
The public is reminded that these are merely charges, and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.