Manhunt closes part of Shawnee Forest “Report”

The manhunt continues in southern Illinois for a man suspected of shooting Mahomet police officer, authorities are searching the Shawnee National Forrest where they suspect 35-year-old Dracy “Clint” Pendleton is hiding.

An arrest warrant was issued for Pendleton by the Champaign County State’s Attorney, for the charge of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. Pendleton was originally charged with Attempted Murder of a Police Officer. A Class X felony, Pendleton’s bond is set at $5 million.

After exchanging gunfire with the Mahomet officer, Pendleton fled the scene, and is believed to have received wounds, and was possibly shot, during the incident, but it is unknown how severe his wounds are.

According to the Illinois State Police, Pendleton is considered to be armed and dangerous, and is believed to be armed with an AK-47, and has also possibly stolen a 2007 white GMC pick-up truck that bears the Illinois Registration Number 165533B. The above photo is of the actual truck.

Statewide agencies have become involved in the hunt for Pendleton, leading to a car crash between an Illinois state trooper and a 26-year-old woman in Decatur that resulted in the woman’s death.

Since the original incident on Saturday, Pendleton made his way to Southern Illinois, where he went to ground in the Shawnee National Forest. According to Staff Officer Laura Lecher, on Tuesday morning, the Shawnee National Forest, at the request of the Illinois State Police, closed an area of the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area. This is the area where Pendleton is believed to be in hiding.

According to Lecher, the closed area, covering Township 11 South, Range 6 East, Section 35, measures 640 acres out of the 7,000 acres of Lusk Creek, and has been surrounded and covered by multiple law enforcement agencies for the past 12-24 hours.

According to a press release form the U.S. Forest Service, under the area closure, the following actions are prohibited:

⁃ To enter or be in the area

⁃ Using any type of vehicle in the area

⁃ Entering or being in the closed area either on horse or on foot

Violating the prohibitions of the order is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, imprisonment for no more than six months, or both a fine and prison time.

The closure is temporary, and will be lifted once the Illinois State Police delivers word to national forest officials.

Pendleton is described as a White, male, 35 years old, 5’10”, 155 lbs., with blue eyes and blonde hair.

Agencies/Canadajournal