A Kewanee man, Roberto Martinez, age 42, faces preliminary charges of attempted first degree murder, arson, burglary, criminal damage to state-supported property, aggravated assault, aggravated fleeing and eluding, criminal trespass to residence, criminal damage to property and multiple traffic offenses after he led police on a high speed chase through the city.
According to the Kewanee Police Department, officers were called to the 600 block of East Sixth Street for a reported burglary and attempted arson. According to a news release, the caller reported that a neighboring resident had forcibly entered their home, rummaged through their belongings and began pouring gasoline around the property.
When officers arrived on the scene, they saw an active fire at the home and identified a blue Chevrolet Suburban fleeing the scene, driven by the Martinez. As the Chevy left the scene, it nearly struck a police officer.
The KPD, with assistance from the Henry County Sheriff’s Department began a pursuit of the subject’s vehicle. But the vehicle didn’t stop leading police on a chase through Kewanee before briefly leaving city limits.
During the vehicle pursuit, the suspect struck several squad cars and endangered the lives of officers and civilians, including children, the news release said. “The suspect also drove directly toward Kewanee Fire Department personnel who were on scene addressing the residential fire.”
Because of the escalating threat to public safety, the police “took decisive action” and using a squad car, they disabled the suspect’s vehicle in the 500 block of North Grace Avenue. The suspect exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident, the release stated.
Martinez was taken to the Henry County Jail, where he will await formal charges from the Henry County State’s Attorney’s Office. The KPD was assisted by the KFD and the HCSO, the Illinois State Police and the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
