Peoria man charged after allegedly driving vehicle at police officer

Posted on September 17, 2015

By Adam Studzinski

CREVE COEUR – A Peoria man faces criminal charges in Tazewell County after police say he attempted to hit an officer with his vehicle.

Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz, in a news release, said Michael Cleary, 31, is being charged with aggravated assault and aggravated attempting to flee police for the incident, which took place in Creve Coeur early Tuesday morning.

Umholtz said Creve Coeur officers had been responding to a disturbance call at Luck Break Bar just before 4 a.m. After approaching Cleary’s vehicle, Cleary refused to exit and then allegedly drove at one of the offices, prompting officers to open fire as the vehicle drove at them.

Clearly then fled down Route 29 before eventually crashing off I-74 in Peoria. No officers were injured during the incident.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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