| Meth suspect flees police, found in QU professor's office |
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From left, Adams County Sheriff Department investigator Brad Woddill, and Quincy Police Department officers Eric Johnson and Eric Benson secure a northeast portion of the Quincy University campus as Adams county and City law enforcement officers search for a fugitive Tuesday, April 29, 2008.(H-W Photo/Steve Bohnstedt)
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Created: 4/29/2008 | Updated: 5/21/2008
By RODNEY HART
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
A man who ran from police this morning when his active meth lab was discovered on 17th Street was arrested inside Quincy University’s Francis Hall about half an hour later.
Authorities said Randall Wert, 38, and Rodney Belden, 38, were found with an active meth lab on 17th between Spring and Oak at about 10:20 a.m. Adams County Sheriff’s Sgt. Rich Wagner said. Belden was arrested immediately and Wert fled to nearby QU, where he was eventually found in a second-floor professor’s office.
Francis Hall, the biggest building on the QU campus, was locked down and students and staff were put in locked classrooms while the building was searched.
“I didn’t feel unsafe,” senior Ashley Hackamack said. “It was intense, but I didn’t feel threatened ... I feel safe at QU all the time because everybody knows everybody.”
Hackamack said she was on her way to class and entered Francis Hall just after Wert ran into the building. A faculty member ushered her and several other students into a classroom, and they watched from classroom windows as police officers and QU staff walked around the building during the search.
Adams County Sheriff’s Department and Quincy Police Department officers coordinated search efforts with QU security.
Adams County Chief Deputy Fred Kientzle said students were not threatened at any time during the incident. About 15 to 20 officers were on scene and cordoned off the Francis Hall area.
“He (Wert) was looking for a place to hide,” Kientzle said. “Could there have been a situation? Yes. But I have to praise Quincy University security and the Quincy Police Department because they did a great job ... They (QU officials) have a plan in place for things like this, and they got him (Wert) into an area without him being a threat to students.”
Wert was found in the second-floor office of computer science professor David Robinson, who said he was in class when the incident started.
Robinson said he knew a person had run into the building trying to elude police. Robinson walked into his small office on the west side of Francis Hall and thought he heard a noise outside.
“So I got up and looked out the window, but then I heard it again,” Robinson said.
What Robinson heard was Wert huffing and puffing as he tried to hide under a table and behind some boxes. Robinson said he saw a leg sticking out from under the table, so he calmly walked out of the office and downstairs, where he alerted QU security.
A minute later, Wert was in custody.
“I guess this is a sign I need to clean up my office,” Robinson said with a smile.
Robinson said he didn’t feel threatened and that authorities did a good job during the lockdown.
QU professor Brian Borlas was also in the building during the incident.
“I thought it was handled reasonably well,” Borlas said. “It was very calm and people did a good job.”
The mood on campus was tense as officers searched every floor and even the roof of Francis Hall, and several adjoining buildings.
Wert and Belden were lodged in the Adams County Jail and will face meth-production charges, State’s Attorney First Assistant Gary Farha said. Both have criminal histories and previous drug charges and could face extended prison terms if convicted due to their prior records, Farha said.
Sheriff’s deputy Tommy Pickett pulled several meth-making items out of the garage on the east side of 17th and next to Spring Street Automotive. Visible was a mason jar of bluish liquid, car battery and cables, camping fuel and pseudophedrine pills soaking in fuel.
Wagner said authorities received a tip Belden and Wert were cooking meth in the garage and had just pulled up to the location when Wert bolted and headed northeast toward QU.
Theresa Wert, the sister of Randall Wert, lives in the 17th and Oak residence and property where the garage is located. She said she didn’t know her brother was cooking meth.
“I’m appalled at him,” said Theresa Wert, who appeared visibly angry and was crying as officers put police tape around the garage and took items out. “I’m glad they found him. The whole damn thing could have blown up.”
Wert said her brother was supposed to help her move some items out of the garage. She was running errands when authorities arrived, she said.
The Illinois State Police Meth Response Team was scheduled to arrive at the garage and take possession of the meth-making materials.
— rhart@whig.com/221-3370
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