Chief Metzler gives timeline of Pendleton hunt on May 7

MAHOMET, IL-The Champaign County Multi-Jurisdictional Investigative Team continues to investigate the events surrounding the May 7, 2016 shooting of Mahomet police officer Jeremy Scharlow. The Team is conducting a thorough, exhaustive investigation of the events, gathering reports of interviews and the collection of evidence. When the process is complete, a comprehensive report will be released.

In the interim, the lack of information provided by those of us in authority has created a void that is being filled with rumor and misinformation. This release is being prepared to clarify the basic chain of events of the evening of May 7th. This release includes the basic facts as they are known by me at this time.

At approximately 10:37 p.m., Mahomet police officer Ryan Rich observed a truck entering town on Oak Street. Ofc. Rich’s attention was drawn to the vehicle because it did not have illuminated tail lights. Ofc. Rich initiated a traffic stop. The truck pulled over near Walnut and Sangamon.

The driver of the truck was identified as Dracy Clint Pendleton. Mr. Pendleton became irate during the course of the traffic stop.

While Ofc. Rich was writing two warnings for the minor traffic infractions, another truck pulled up to the stop and sat and watched the officer. The second truck as a white Toyota. It was later learned that the white truck was driven by Kyle Dollahon, Pendleton’s half-brother.

After Ofc. Rich issued two written warnings, one for the tail light violation and one for failing to notify the Secretary of State of a change of address, he released Pendleton from the stop. The stop ended at approximately 10:50 p.m. Ofc. Rich last saw Pendleton’s truck eastbound on Sangamon and Walnut, approximately three blocks from 504. S. Vine.

Ofc. Rich last saw the white truck, driven by Kyle Dollahon, heading west toward Division.

Ofc. Rich’s in-car dash camera recorded the video of the stop. The audio did not function properly.

Ofc. Scharlow did not go to Ofc. Rich’s traffic stop. At about 10:50 p.m. Ofc. Scharlow left the area of the gas station at Oak and Lombard heading back to the police department for the end of his shift. As he traveled west on Oak Street, Ofc. Scharlow observed a white truck turn off of Division onto Oak Street. The truck’s headlights were not illuminated. Ofc. Scharlow passed the truck, going in the opposite direction, in front of the police department. Ofc. Scharlow did a U-turn in order to address the lack of headlights. By the time Ofc. Scharlow caught up with the truck, it had pulled into the driveway at 504 S. Vine.

Ofc. Scharlow stopped his squad car just south of the driveway, intending to let the driver of the truck know his headlights were not working. With the truck and driver presumably off the road and out of traffic, Ofc. Scharlow intended only to inform the driver. He did not call in a stop, not did he activate his emergency lights or his in-car camera.

Ofc. Scharlow saw a white male in the driveway. The male immediately began screaming epithets at Scharlow, by name, and charging Ofc. Scharlow’s squad car. Before Ofc. Scharlow could get out of his car, the male, later identified as Dray Clint Pendleton, attacked Ofc. Scharlow striking him multiple times in the head with his fists. Ofc. Scharlow was able to make his way out of his car. While fending off blows with one arm, Ofc. Scharlow pulled his Taser and deployed it in the general direction of Pendleton’s chest. The Taser did not have the desired effect. Ofc. Scharlow then used a technique known as “drive stun,” trying to create distance from Pendleton by pushing the Taser into his chest.

Pendleton then pulled a small, semi-automatic pistol from his pocket, took a distinct shooter’s stand and began firing. Ofc. Scharlow returned fire.

Pendleton retreated to the house at 504 S. Vine, as Ofc. Scharlow sought cover behind his squad car. Ofc. Scharlow recognized he had been shot in the arm and pulled back farther behind a four-plex apartment building across the street and southwest of 504 S. Vine.

Pendleton reappeared, from within the house, this time armed with a long rifle. He began firing on Ofc. Scharlow’s squad car.

Ofc. Rebecca Bragg was arriving for her shift and heard gun fire. She saw Ofc. Scharlow firing his gun. From her vantage point of the police department parking lot, Ofc. Bragg could not see at whom Scharlow was firing. She notified METCAD of the shots fired at approximately 10:53 p.m.

Ofc. Bragg recognizes the Ofc. Scharlow has been shot and takes action to get him to cover and evaluate his injuries.

Ofc. Rich arrived at the police department after hearing the call of shots fired. He deployed near the police garage at Sangamon and Center, directly south of the police department parking lot.

At approximately 10:57 p.m., the officers heard a loud engine from the area of 504 S. Vine. They then heard a large crash and saw Ofc. Scharlow’s squad car bounce as it was struck. A truck was seen leaving southbound on Vine and then turn west of Sangamon. As the truck passed the police department garage, Ofc. Rich recognized it was the same truck previously driven by Dracy Clint Pendleton.

Ofc. Rich ran to his squad car in an attempt to go after the truck. He was not able to regain visual contact with the truck.

The truck was later discovered at Mid-America Sand and Gravel and the manhunt for Pendleton began.

After assessing Ofc. Scharlow’s injuries, Ofc. Bragg made the decision to evacuate Ofc. Scharlow from the scene to obtain medical assistance. She drove him to Cornbelt Fire Department. There, Cornbelt and Carle Ambulance personnel treated Ofc. Scharlow, ultimately transporting to Carle Hospital.

Ofc. Scharlow did not know the identity of his attacker until he was shown a photograph in the emergency department for identification purposes. He recognized Pendleton as someone he had dealt with on another occasion.

Ofc. Scharlow’s previous contact with Pendleton occurred in August 2013. Ofc. Scharlow responded to a fight in progress at a local gas station. Upon his arrival, one of the involved parties had already left. According to the report, a subject, later identified as Dracy Clint Pendleton, had approached a black male and began yelling racially charged epithets. The two exchanged heated words and a bystander called the police.

Ofc. Scharlow obtained a license plate number for the offending party. It was registered to Pendleton. Ofc. Scharlow went to the Pendleton’s address to follow-up on the report. Upon seeing Ofc. Scharlow walking toward the residence, Pendleton balled his fists, began yelling and aggressively approached Ofc. Scharlow. Believing Pendleton was about to attack, Ofc. Scharlow pointed his Taser at Pendleton and ordered him to his knees until a back-up officer arrived.

Pendleton was ultimately arrested for Aggravated Assault and Disorderly Conduct.

Again the purpose of this release is to clarify the basic events of May 7th and to dispel the misinformation that is being repeated in the community and the media.