Shooting suspect takes hostages at Illinois bank

[RRMB]

By DAVID MERCER
Associated Press Writer


ARCOLA, Ill. (AP) -- A man wanted in an ambush attack that left a sheriff's deputy critically wounded stormed inside a bank and took five hostages Thursday after a gunfire-filled chase through Illinois farm country that reached speeds of more than 100 mph.

Authorities surrounded the First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust in this town of 2,600, where horse-drawn buggies of Old Order Amish and tractors are a familiar sight.

The suspect released four hostages unharmed throughout the hours-long standoff, authorities said.

"We have had contact with the (suspect) in the bank. At this time I'm unsure of what he wants," State Police Sgt. Bill Emery said. "Our plan is to talk to the subject. We want this to be as peaceful as possible."

Authorities said they were unsure of the condition of the remaining hostage, a male bank employee, or whether the suspect was armed.

Authorities would not identify the hostage, but family members said he's 27-year-old bank manager Brad Pullen.

His aunt, Cindy Pullen, said she and other family members were awaiting news of the situation inside a local bar and grill owned by Brad Pullen's 69-year-old grandfather, who also was taken hostage but later was released. She said Brad Pullen has a son who was born in March.

"We're just kind of hanging together right now," she said. "Kinda scary."

Emery said at a Thursday afternoon news conference that hostage negotiators had asked state police to release few new details because talks with the suspect were going well.

"Negotiators are trained to talk. If it takes all day, all night, that's what we're going to do," Emery said.

The situation began at about 9:30 a.m. when a state trooper on Interstate 57, about 12 miles from Arcola, pulled over a silver Infiniti for having windows tinted too darkly. The trooper radioed for a drug-sniffing dog to be brought to the scene and the suspects fled, Emery said.

Because there was no violent crime or threat of a violent crime, the trooper was not allowed under State Police policy to give chase, Emery said. An hour later, the two men robbed a home in nearby Camargo and stole a van, leaving the silver car behind.

Soon after, Douglas County sheriff's deputy Tom Martin pulled the van over and was shot in the face and torso as he walked up to the vehicle, Emery said. Authorities said Martin, though critically wounded, was able to call in the attack as the suspects fled, and the chase was on.

The van reached speeds of more than 100 mph, Emery said, and gunfire from the vehicle struck an Illinois State Police car in the windshield. The driver lost control of the vehicle as it careered over railroad tracks in Arcola, and the two men abandoned it.

One fled into the nearby bank. The other suspect, a 23-year-old man, was taken into custody but had not yet been charged. It wasn't immediately clear to authorities which suspect shot the deputy.

Arcola, about 150 miles south of Chicago, is home to an Old Order Amish settlement. The rural area features Amish homes, business and schools. It is also the hometown of Johnny Gruelle, creator of the Raggedy Ann and Andy characters in the early part of the last century.

"This does not happen in our little town," said Paul Harshbarger, owner of Midwest Mobile Stages. Just a block from the bank, Harshbarger and his staff were trying to conduct business as usual as SWAT trucks and police with shotguns zoomed by.

"It's actually inconvenient for business today," he said. "We've just been hanging out inside here taking care of what we got to do."

The situation at the bank unfolded so quickly that police ordered crews building a grain elevator next door to abandon their still-running equipment, Harshbarger said. The tractors, compressors and backhoes were left to run until they run out of gas.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Michaels]

This is about 30 mins down the interstate from me...crazy stuff

[JCJanko]

This is about 30 mins down the interstate from me...crazy stuff

That's crazy. I used to live in Champaign-Urbana, too.

[voivod]

Arcola is 1,009 mi (about 16 hours 49 mins) from me!

That's crazy shit!

[Michaels]

That's crazy. I used to live in Champaign-Urbana, too.

I knew someone from Bloomington, who once lived in Champaign. We were big VH fans, lost contact though. I doubt that is you though lol

[Michaels]

Arcola is 1,009 mi (about 16 hours 49 mins) from me!

That's crazy shit!

I would not recommend making that 16 hour trip to Arcola...they have no electricity...horse and buggy style still....no joke.

[jimmy812]

Arcola is 1,009 mi (about 16 hours 49 mins) from me!

That's crazy shit!

V, be careful, bro!!

Can ya see anything?

[track 5]

By DAVID MERCER
Associated Press Writer




Soon after, Douglas County sheriff's deputy Tom Martin pulled the van over and was shot in the face and torso as he walked up to the vehicle, Emery said. Authorities said Martin, though critically wounded, was able to call in the attack as the suspects fled, and the chase was on.



.

That's great that deputy Martin was able to call in. That's a burly motherfucker! Lets all hope and pray that the little man bitch that's holled up in the bank gets killed asap. Out.

[Michaels]

I guess the last hostage (which was the bank president) overpowered the gunman. Took the gun and then tied his hands behind his back and then walked him out to be arrested.

This was a real bizarre story...started in Chicago, the original vechicle they were pulled over for, was stolen and the man it belong to, was found stabbed to death in his home. Also, the cop was actually in his squad car when he was shot.

[smithjc]

Whatta bizarre story. If only police policy would've allowed the officer to arrest them during that initial stop.

[JCJanko]

I knew someone from Bloomington, who once lived in Champaign. We were big VH fans, lost contact though. I doubt that is you though lol

Wow...seriously, I'm still a little over an hour away...

Then again, I grew up on the east side of Buffalo, where this is silly and is not even worth print...