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First off the pictures in this story are worth a thousand words, second off the dude is gangsta, he doesn't drop his cig or burner plus rocking
denim-on-denim with some New Balnces, third off fuck the police. Enjoy ya'll.
Officers on Leave; Coroner Says Robbery Suspect Was Shot in the Head
Officers on Leave; Coroner Says Robbery Suspect Was Shot in the Head
BLOOMINGTON -- A 57-year-old Bloomington man shot by police after a high speed chase Monday afternoon died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to results of an autopsy released Tuesday by Coroner Beth Kimmerling.
Police remained tightlipped Tuesday about many details of how Robert E. Sylvester was pursued and eventually killed by police gunfire, citing the need to keep information confidential until an Illinois State Police investigation is complete.
Sylvester was a suspect in an armed robbery about 1:45 p.m. Monday of the Check 'n Go at Market Street and Hinshaw Avenue, Bloomington.
About an hour after the robbery, police began a high-speed pursuit when Sylvester's sport utility vehicle was spotted on Interstate 55 near Lexington.
After a chase over interstates and country roads, Sylvester got out of his SUV with a handgun on I-55 near the I-74 split in northwest Normal. He jumped the concrete barrier in the median onto the northbound lane, where he was shot by officers from at least two departments.
Kimmerling's report indicates that Sylvester's injuries included the head and lower extremities.
Bloomington and Normal police said Tuesday that each department placed an officer on administrative leave after the shooting. The unidentified officers were involved in the shooting but it is not known if their rounds were among the fatal shots.
"Someone from our department did fire, but we don't know yet who hit him," said Normal's Assistant Chief Kirk Ijams.
Normal is conducting its own administrative review of the incident, he said.
Officers involved in the high speed chase north of Normal were guided by their department's policies for the dangerous situation that ended with the suspect's death.
Sylvester's description matched those of suspects in four bank robberies and a currency store holdup in December, and Bloomington and Normal detectives were continuing to review those cases to see if he was involved.
Pursuit policies
Officers involved in the high-speed chase that pushed to 90 mph at times were governed by policies each department has for the type of dangerous situation that police hope to avoid.
Bloomington police procedure allows pursuit when an officer believes the fleeing driver is aware of the police attempt to stop the vehicle and resists by increasing speed or otherwise eluding police.
Sirens and lights must be used during the pursuit and use of unmarked police vehicles is discouraged under the Bloomington policy.
While the officer involved in the pursuit primarily controls the decision to abandon the pursuit, a supervising officer may also decide to end the effort, according to policy.
On Monday, a Bloomington officer involved in the search for Sylvester was denied permission to pursue the suspect into Normal, said Bloomington police spokesman Duane Moss. Other Bloomington officers arrived at the scene of the shooting, he said.
The risk to public safety and the seriousness of the offense the suspect is accused of are among the assessments police must make in deciding to pursue a person, according to policies for Bloomington and the McLean County Sheriff's Department.
McLean's Chief Deputy Rusty Thomas said his department "will not initiate or become involved in chases involving traffic offenses or property crimes."
If a chase moves beyond the boundaries of the county, a supervisor decides if local police will continue and police in the neighboring jurisdiction are notified, said Thomas.
The Illinois State Police changed their policy in November to allow officers to exceed the posted speed limit by 20 mph to 30 mph in certain circumstances. The change came after the deaths of two Collinsville sisters in an accident involving a state police officer who lost control of his squad car.
Prior to the policy change, state police were only required to exercise due care at all times and evaluate the situation.
