The Mahomet Police Department has concluded their investigation into the May 7, 2016 incident in which Mahomet Police officer Jeremy Scharlow was shot by Dracy Clint Pendleton.
After the Champaign County Multi-Jurisdictional Investigative Team (CCMJIT), under the supervision of Illinois State Police Master Sergeant Michael Atkinson, conducted numerous interviews, collected many items of physical evidence, reviewed in-car video recording and radio traffic, State’s Attorney Steve Ziegler issued a letter that concluded “…Off. Scharlow acted appropriately in this matter and that there are no indications of any wrongdoing on his part.”
Likewise, the Mahomet Police Department conducted an internal departmental review of the incident that concluded no violations of policy on the part of Ofc. Scharlow, Ofc. Rich, or Ofc. Bragg, the three officers directly involved in the incident.
“It is always tragic when an encounter between the police and a citizen results in personal injury, or as in this case, a death,” Chief Mike Metzler said in a report, which will be posted to the Village of Mahomet website tomorrow. “The independent investigation by the CCMJIT clearly reveals that the responsibility for the chain of events, ultimately leading to Pendleton’s death, lies solely with Dracy Clint Pendleton.”
The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, Champaign Police Department, University of Illinois Police Department, Urbana Police Department, Thomasboro Police Department, Parkland College Police, Fisher Police Department, the Illinois State Police, Rantoul Police Department, the Cornbelt Fire Department and METCAD dispatchers all responded to radio traffic indicating shots had been fired and Officer Scharlow had been hit.
“Their immediate and effective response allowed for the scene of the incident to quickly be secured, the offender to be identified, and the search for the offender to be initiated,” Metzler said. “Their calm, decisive organization of the responding assets provided the basis for the investigation to follow and to the continued safety of the residents of Mahomet.”
With Metzler’s report, he also commended Officers Scharlow, Rich and Officer Rebecca Bragg for a job well done.
The report, which Metzler has released for transparency, recounts the events of May 7 , provides crime scene photos, videos and interviews. Following the event recount, several links to additional information are provided.
In summary of the incident:
On May 7, 2016, at approximately 10:37 PM, Mahomet Police Officer Ryan Rich observed a truck entering town on Oak Street. Ofc. Rich’s attention was drawn to the pick-up truck 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 was 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 PM. Ofc. Rich last saw Pendleton’s truck eastbound on Sangamon from 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. On viewing the interior squad car video, Ofc. Rich can be seen attaching the microphone to his uniform shirt, but the audio did not function properly.
Ofc. Jeremy Scharlow did not go to Ofc. Rich’s traffic stop. At about 10:50 PM, 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 travelled 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 radioed Ofc. Rich and asked the reason for his previous traffic stop. Ofc. Rich responded the stop had been for lack of functioning tail lights. 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, nor 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, calling him by name, and charging Ofc. Scharlow’s squad car. Before Ofc. Scharlow could get out of his car, the male, later identified as Dracy 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 a “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 stance 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 an AK47 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 PM.
Ofc. Bragg recognized that Ofc. Scharlow has been shot and took 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 PM, 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 and then south on Division. 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.
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Reports
Mahomet Police
IL State Police
Champaign County Sheriff
Urbana Police
Champaign Police
IL State Police CSI
Autopsy
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Crime Scene Photos
CSI Crime Scene
Cartridge Recovery
Videos
Traffic stop
Traffic Stop (Interior Camera)
Ofc Bragg Cam 1 2311-2345
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State’s Attorney Letter
METCAD
All Phone Calls
Incident 2 Preamble
Patrol 2 2237-2250 1st Traffic Stop
Patrol 2 2250 Part 1
Patrol 2 2250 Part 2
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I am confused, Ofc. Scharlow radioed to Ofc. Rich pertaining to his most recent stop, and Ofc. Rich told Ofc. Scharlow that he just stopped the truck for taillights and one other infraction. So, from the time that Ofc. Rich stopped the white truck, the headlights suddenly stopped working or were just not on? Also, Ofc. Rich notified Ofc. Scharlow that the driver of the white truck, Mr. Pendleton, was “agitated” during the course of the traffic stop. (According to Ofc. Bragg’s Officer Activity Report – which in Ofc. Rich’s, he didn’t make any mention of this radio call.) If the driver was “agitated” why would Ofc. Scharlow even make contact with Mr. Pendleton. Plus, Ofc. Scharlow’s lengthy history with the drive.
A vehicle has already been cited, plus the person inside the car was “agitated” because of it. Would you then proceed to engage this person on their personal property to inform of another violation? I am just confused by the events that transpired, and I feel that this tragic event could have been avoided.
I, for one, do NOT condone the actions that Mr. Pendleton took when approached for the second time regarding his white truck. Public servants, like the police, should be treated with respect due to the threat of danger on the job.
I believe there are still unanswered questions, or maybe they are not included here in the story, but why in the world would an officer that is ending their shift, knows that this white truck was just pulled over, has history with the individual, and is notified that he is “agitated” engage him the way he did.
I am still troubled by this event, and I believe there are still unanswered questions. I am having trouble getting the Scharlow interviews to open, it seems to only open Evelyn’s.