PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — Several pounds of a material consistent with being explosive materials along with suspected detonation devices were allegedly found inside of a Pekin home after a brief standoff Wednesday.
Pekin Police Chief Seth Ranney said two people — Tyler J. Whitney and Ryan M. Brown — were taken into custody after the incident and no one was injured.
Officers with the Pekin department had obtained a search warrant to enter a home in the 1800 block of Court Street to search for explosive materials. Due to the risk factor, the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team and the Peoria Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit were asked to help with the warrant.
Beforehand, the area around the home was evacuated in a discreet manner to minimize any risk to the public, the chief said.
Officers used armored vehicles to set up a perimeter and while that was going on, Whitney came out of the home and was arrested. He was found to be in possession of meth, the chief said.
Then announcements were made on loudspeakers telling anyone inside the home to come out. This was done several times before Brown came out of the home with a bag around his waist. He was arrested and that bag was later found to have a loaded handgun, the chief said.
A search of the house was made and no one else was inside. “EOD members located several pounds of a material consistent with being explosive materials along with suspected detonation devices inside the residence. Those items will be sent to a specialized lab for testing,” the chief said.
Brown was booked into the county jail on charges of armed violence, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of stolen property. Whitney was booked on charges of armed violence, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of a defaced firearm.
Ranney also said rumors that “nearby businesses were robbed or otherwise involved in this incident and that is not accurate.” They were simply asked to vacate for their safety.
