UPDATE 6:30 P.M. 11/16/20
PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Police have identified and arrested the suspect responsible for firing a weapon at a Peoria Police Officer Monday afternoon.
The suspect, 26-year-old Laeland D. Howard, was arrested for the following: Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Obstructing Police, Tazewell County Traffic Warrant, and a Peoria County Traffic Warrant.
Howard was transported to the Peoria County Jail after being interviewed and charged by the PPD.
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PEORIA, Ill. – Shots were fired Monday afternoon just before 1:00 p.m. at a Peoria Police officer on-duty in plain clothes.
According to Public Information Officer Amy Dotson, the officer saw someone enter a vehicle with a gun and then followed the vehicle.
The officer then requested more units to make a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and 4th St.
“At that point, the vehicle stopped, the occupant exited the vehicle and fired shots in the area of the plain clothed police officer,” said Dotson.
Dotson added that the officer never attempted to stop the vehicle or to return fire.
After firing at the officer, the suspect fled on foot and was taken into custody in the area of Third and Saratoga.
Shell casings were recovered at the area of the shooting. A gun was also recovered in the path of the suspect, said Dotson.
The vehicle, along with two other occupants, was found in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and 3rd St.
The suspect and two other occupants have all been taken to the Peoria Police Department for questioning.
No injuries have been reported in this incident at this time.
