Suspect could face multiple charges after September 15 pursuit by police

Gordon Woods
Posted 9/14/21

A complaint was filed Monday morning in DeWitt County Circuit Court against Orsino Thurman, 36, after leading authorities on an hours-long pursuit Sept. 15 following a report of a domestic dispute.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Suspect could face multiple charges after September 15 pursuit by police

Posted

CLINTON — A complaint was filed Monday morning in DeWitt County Circuit Court against Orsino Thurman, 36, after leading authorities on an hours-long pursuit Sept. 15 following a report of a domestic dispute.

Bail and pre-trial conditions were filed Monday as well.  Thurman’s bail was set at $75,000 making him eligible for release on $7,500 bond.

Thurman could face a number of charges, including aggravated fleeing from police and child abduction, both Class 4 felonies, possession and use of a firearm by a felon, a Class 3 felony, and domestic battery and child endangerment, both Class A misdemeanors.  

At about 9:41 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15, Clinton Police responded to a report of a domestic battery in the 1100 block of Rt. 54 west, Clinton.  A woman told police she was battered in an adjacent motel, Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers said.

Lowers said officers spotted the suspect leave the area in a vehicle heading west on Rt. 54 to U.S. Rt 51.  He said officers received information the suspect was also wanted on warrants in LaSalle County and that he was armed and traveling with an infant.

Lowers confirmed officers seized a weapon after the suspect was arrested.

“He was initially stopped but then drove away as police attempted to question him regarding the domestic battery investigation,” Lowers said.  “The suspect then led police on a lengthy pursuit.”

Illinois State Police (ISP)District 6 police as well as officers from the Illinois Conservation Police and DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit.  Aircraft also were used.

Lowers said officers used spike strips to stop the suspect’s vehicle on Rt. 51 near Maroa.  The suspect eventually stopped near the intersection of Rt. 51 near School Road, in Macon County.

ISP SWAT officers and crisis negotiators responded to the scene, “and were eventually able to get the suspect to release the infant, and then the suspect fled again,” Lowers said.

SWAT officers “disabled the suspect” and took him into custody just before 2 p.m.

Lowers said there were no injuries reported from the incident.