A Bradford, Ill. man arrested on numerous charges is lucky to be alive after he is accused of pulling a gun on a Kewanee, Ill. police officer on Saturday, April 13, 2019.
According to a post by the police department, which included body camera video, Tyler J. Demuynch, 29, could be approached by Sergeant Stephen Kijanowski outside a home in the 800 block of Willow Street. During the encounter, the post said Demuynck pulled out a gun on the officer but dropped it on the ground as he tried to retrieve it from the front pocket of his sweatshirt.
Moments after Demuynck pulls the gun from his sweatshirt, Sgt. Kijanowski pulls his service weapon and holds the suspect at gunpoint until backup officers arrived.
The Kewanee Police Department said in its post that it Sgt. Kijanowski believed Demuynck was involved in switching license plate on vehicles at Beck’s South Gas Station and the Royal Oaks Nursing Home after he spotted the vehicle that Demuynck was in leaving the area of the license plate switches.
Demuynck was charged with multiple felonies that included aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, aggravated assault on a peace officer, and possession of a weapon without a FOID card. Demuynck also faces a misdemeanor charge of unlawful use of weapons.
Man pulls gun on KPD officerMAN ARRESTED AFTER PULLING A GUN ON KPD OFFICER
At approximately 11:45 pm on April 13th, 2019, Kewanee Police Department arrested a 29-year-old man for multiple weapons offenses after he was alleged to have pulled a firearm on a police officer during a suspicious activity complaint. Tyler J. Demuynck (29) of Bradford, Illinois, was taken into custody just before midnight following the armed encounter. No shots were fired by either Demuynck or the police officer. A loaded .380 caliber handgun was recovered from the scene.
The origination of the suspicious activity resulted from a complainant that advised the Kewanee Police Department of individuals switching license plates on vehicles at the Beck’s South Gas Station and the Royal Oaks Nursing Home, both located in Kewanee, Illinois. The complainant provided a description of the suspects and the suspect vehicles. Sergeant Stephen Kijanowski spotted one of the suspect vehicles leaving the area. Sergeant Kijanowski was able to follow the vehicle as it pulled into a driveway in the 800 block of Willow Street in Kewanee. As Demuynck exited the vehicle, Sergeant Kijanowski initiated a consensual encounter to speak with him about the complaint. After approximately 24 seconds, the suspect quickly reaches into the front pocket of his sweatshirt and pulls out a loaded .380 caliber handgun. Sergeant Kijanowski pulled his service weapon in response. While pulling out the gun, the suspect ends up fumbling with the gun and it dropped to the ground. Sergeant Kijanowski held the suspect and additional passenger in the vehicle at gunpoint until additional officers arrived to secure the suspects and the loaded firearm. The encounter was captured on the officer’s body camera.
Demuynck was transported to the Henry County Jail where is being held on $250,000 bond. He was charged with multiple felonies that included aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, aggravated assault on a peace officer, and possession of a weapon without a FOID card. Demuynck also faces a misdemeanor charge of unlawful use of weapons. The offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon is a class 2 felony and carries a potential sentence of 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Demuynck has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 22, 2019 at 1:00 pm at the Henry County Courthouse. The alleged crimes are preliminary charges and the subject is innocent until proven guilty.
Posted by Kewanee Police Department on Friday, April 19, 2019
Demuynck has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 22, 2019, at 1:00 pm at the Henry County Courthouse. The alleged crimes are preliminary charges and the subject is innocent until proven guilty.
