| Standoff in north Quincy ends after 10 hours with no injuries, man in custody; 'It got to be very tense at times' |
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Members of the Adams County Sheriff's Department, the Illinois State Police and other law enforcement officials gather south of where a staging area was set up Thursday on 60th Street just north of Ellington Road.
(H-W Photo/Michael Kipley)
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Published: 11/20/2009 | Updated: 6/2/2010
By RODNEY HART
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Adams County Sheriff Brent Fischer convinced a barricaded man to surrender peacefully Thursday night after a standoff of more than 10 hours northeast of Quincy.
Randy Black, 39, was taken to Blessing Hospital after keeping authorities at bay from 11 a.m. until about 9:30 p.m. Black’s mother came out of the house at about 7 p.m., and firearms were found inside the residence at 6111 Ewbanks Road after Black gave himself up, Fischer said.
“I was just trying to get him to understand it was OK for him to come out,” Fischer said this morning.
Fischer stood in the street and used the department’s armored personnel carrier for cover as he talked intently for several minutes with Black, who came out and was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect threatened harm to himself during the standoff, Adams County Chief Deputy Fred Kientzle said. About 25 law enforcement officers were called to the scene, Blessing Hospital’s Air Evac helicopter circled above the house at times, and two ambulances also were parked nearby.
“It got to be very tense at times, and it was extremely dangerous,” Kientzle said.
Fischer said a 911 call from an unidentified person tipped off authorities about Black being in the house with his mother. The house is just east of North 60th, about a mile north of Ellington Road.
Adams County Sgt. Rich Wagner of the SRT team was the initial lead negotiator. Detective Cathy Martin of the Quincy Police Department also talked to Black during the standoff, Fischer said.
“From a negotiation side, it helps to have a second negotiator, and Cathy Martin did a phenomenal job,” Fischer said. “The three of us maintained contact with Mr. Black, and working together, the three of us got him to come around.”
Black was taken to Blessing Hospital for an evaluation. Fischer did not say where Black was this morning.
Kientzle said the case will be turned over to the state’s attorney’s office before charges are filed. State’s Attorney Jon Barnard said an investigation continues and charges are pending.
Another man was arrested during the standoff and charged with interfering. He was arrested a few hours after the standoff began after he walked up to the house and began yelling inside to Black, police said. The man’s name has not been released.
Neighbors were asked to stay inside their homes, and most complied, Fischer said.
Special Response Team members took up positions around the house. Kientzle said some officers were laying in three to four inches of water from recent heavy rains.
“If we didn’t have this team, I can tell you this situation would not have come out like it did,” Kientzle said. “Everybody involved, they could not have done a better job.”
— rhart@whig.com/221-3370
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