October 23, 2011 Forest City police officer shot- arrested for arson www.privateofficer.com
An off-duty Forest City Police Officer shot last evening – is now facing criminal charges.
Agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation – or “DCI” – found Officer Thaddeus Ellenbecker with a weapon.
They struggled and Ellenbecker was shot.
He’s recovering in the hospital.
Special Agents Steve Peterson and Chris Callaway say they interviewed Ellenbecker about an arson at the Forest City Police Station earlier this month.
The two agents decided to check up on him following yesterday’s interview.
That’s when the shooting happened.
DCI agents believe Officer Ellenbecker is responsible for starting the fire at the forest city police station a few weeks ago.
He’s accused of second degree arson.
Ellenbecker is also facing a burglary charge for stealing a rifle out of the trunk of another officer’s squad car last November.
Those who live in the area are in disbelief.
Felicia Werner who lives right next to the scene said, “Never thought stuff like this would happen ever here in Forest City. I thought this was a good, nice little town.”
It may look nice and peaceful today…but just hours ago police swarmed this street responding to a shooting.
Nick Vanoverdeke said, “Roped off and didn’t even try going in there cop cars all around and pulled in right there and walked in the front door and there was a cop standing right there.”
Nick and his brother live in the same building as officer Ellenbecker.
He tells us he was working at the time of the shooting but says his brother heard everything.
Vanoverdeke said, “He first thought it was from our neighbor’s apartment because the walls are paper thin, so he thought it was the TV and then he told me somebody got shot lying on the back steps out there.”
His first thought was there’s a cop that lives here so they shouldn’t be too worried. But then he found out this cop was involved and was under investigation for starting this fire at the forest city police department.
Vanoverderke said, “It’s pretty shocking. Usually you don’t hear about something like that in small towns.”
He said usually this street and building are pretty quiet and neighbors agree, but now there’s a slightly different mood in the air.
Werner said, “I was like oh. That makes me feel like I live in a really bad neighborhood.”
Agents Callaway and Peterson are both on paid administrative leave. That’s routine in a case like this one. The investigation is ongoing.
Ellenbecker is said to be in the hospital and will be booked at the Winnebago County Jail when he’s released.
Source:kimt3.com
Tags: Forest City police officer shot- arrested for arson, Officer Thaddeus Ellenbecker
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