Standoff closes US 51 near Heyworth

Posted on October 5, 2019
Police blocked U.S. Route 51 south of Heyworth Friday night as they arrested a man suspected of aggravated kidnapping. (Photo courtesy WEEK)

By WEEK News

HEYWORTH – Illinois State Police arrested a man who barricaded himself inside a semi for hours south of Heyworth. The subject was wanted for aggravated kidnapping in the Chicago area.

Police blocked the northbound lanes of U.S. Route 51 for several hours until they arrested the man before 11 p.m.

“The suspect stopped here and for whatever reason his vehicle got stuck and he barricaded himself in the truck,” Cpt. Louis Kink with ISP said. He said the truck’s tires also caught fire.

Kink says the decision was made to force their way into the semi after they had not heard from the suspect for several hours.

“With his vehicle being stopped and it would not start it makes it easier for us because there’s not a pursuit involved,” he said. “Our main concern after not hearing from him after a couple of hours was to make sure he’s still alright. So we busted a window and put pepper spray in there and that’s when we heard from him.”

The alleged kidnapping victim was not with the suspect, who was taken to a nearby hospital to treat the pepper spray.

U.S. Route 51 is now re-opened.

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