Update 5am, 8/1/18
After a tense evening Monday and a prolonged standoff Tuesday, Carmi Police got their man and no one was injured. 34 year old Willie Ray Wiseman is in custody.
Police initially made contact with Wiseman after the Galatia man led authorities on a chase aboard a 4 Wheeler Monday night. After wrecking the ATV, Wiseman fled on foot and for a short time at least, evaded capture.
Authorities were tipped off Wiseman was holed up in a residence at 206 Oliver in Carmi on Tuesday and following discussions with individuals at the home, determined he was inside.
Wiseman was unwilling to surrender and made comments, according to authorities, serious enough to warrant backup which arrived in the form of an ISP Tactical Response Unit. After evacuating a perimeter around Kerney and Olive, cops utilized a battering ram, armored vehicle and a robot to gain entrance after setting off 3 stun grenades, also called flashbangs.
Finally, just before 5pm, Wiseman gave up. Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter says Wiseman was taken to a medical facility, complaining that he thought he’d broken his leg in the 4 Wheeler accident.
He’ll be processed and placed behind bars after he’s discharged.
Wiseman and an accomplice, Eric Brantley ran away from officers down in Kentucky last week, abandoning a vehicle that allegedly contained 29 stolen firearms from Hamilton County, IL. Inside the car was also methamphetamine, pot, and Lortabs. Brantley turned himself in down in Pope County last week.
Wiseman was wanted on warrants of two counts of first degree fleeing or evading police on foot and in a vehicle, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, 28 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, receiving stolen property and first degree possession of methamphetamine.
Wiseman’s girlfriend, Amanda Ball, 33-year-old Amanda Ball from Carmi, Illinois was captured by Kentucky Sheriffs Deputies last week when they ditched the vehicle. She’s charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted fellon, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first degree possession of meth and first degree possession of opiates. She is also charged in a warrant out of Henderson County.
Official Release/Statement from Carmi PD:
Original Story
Carmi Police are in a standoff with a wanted man at 206 Olive Street in Carmi. Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter says following a Carmi Police pursuit of a 4 wheeler driven by 34 year old Willie Ray Wiseman, a Galatia man that’s wanted on gun theft charges. Police received information that Wiseman was holed up in the Carmi home and was armed. Police made contact with individuals at the residence and confirmed he was inside. Carter says he’s made comments that indicate he would use violence if approached by authorities.
The Illinois State Police Tactical Response Team is preparing to make entry with an armored vehicle into the residence.
Police say the perimeter has been set up effectively and though not everyone chose to evacuate the area, Carter says he believes everyone that would be in direct danger are out of the way.
Wiseman and an accomplice in the gun theft, Eric Brantley ran away from officers down in Kentucky last week, abandoning a vehicle that allegedly contained 29 stolen firearms and methamphetamine.
We’ll have the latest as it develops.
