Local News

Suspect in Custody After Rampage Near Nokomis

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 14:34:26 CDT
An alleged domestic dispute Thursday soon grew into something much bigger. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from woman reporting she was battered at 22204 East 20th Road, located approximately two miles northwest of Nokomis, Illinois. A 40 year old female victim reported that she had been battered by her boyfriend, who was identified as Barry E. Spears, age 57. Reportedly, Spears also damaged the victim’s vehicle with a baseball bat. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the incident and located Spears driving a concrete mixer truck on the property. A Deputy briefly spoke with Spears, who was angry and drove away towards the residence. The Deputy parked his squad car and exited, when Spears drove the mixer truck towards the Deputy. The mixer truck crashed into the rear of the squad car, and continued towards the house. Spears exited the truck, and entered the residence after being given commands to stop. Law Enforcement officers from the following agencies responded to assist:

Nokomis Police Department, Illinois State Police, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Conservation Police, Litchfield Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department and the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office.

Spears refused to exit the residence after receiving numerous commands from Law Enforcement. Reportedly, Spears was in possession of a firearm which was later located and seized. During the incident, smoke was seen coming from the house, after Spears had intentionally started a fire inside his residence.

Fire Department personnel from the following agencies responded: Nokomis

Fire Department, Witt Fire Department, Raymond-Harvel Fire Department, Fillmore Fire Department, Morrisonville Fire Department, Pana Fire Department, Coffeen Fire Department and the Stonington Fire Department. The Nokomis-Witt Area Ambulance, Raymond-Harvel Ambulance, Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency and Montgomery County Animal Control also responded to the scene.

Deputies attempted to communicate with Spears, who continued to refuse to exit the residence. Deputies were able to speak with Spears through a window and convince him to exit the residence as the fire had grown much larger. Once Spears exited the residence, he resisted arrest and was apprehended by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s K-9 Flex and Deputies.

Fire Department personnel successfully extinguished the fire which caused heavy damage to the residence.

Spears was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he is being held on a charge of Attempt-Murder, as a result of driving the concrete mixer truck in the direction of the Deputy, while crashing into the squad car. Additionally, Spears has pending charges of Domestic Battery, Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.