advertisement

Manhunt continues for Pendleton

aw enforcement agencies are offering rewards for information that leads to the identification and apprehension of Dracy "Clint" Pendleton.

Pendleton, 35, has been the subject of a statewide manhunt since Saturday evening, after he wounded a Mahomet Police Officer during a shooting and fled the scene. The search for Pendleton has moved to an area of the Shawnee National Forest that law enforcement has cordoned off.

During a press conference held Wednesday afternoon in Mitchellsville, Illinois State Police District Commander Capt. William Sons announced that the FBI has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Pendleton's arrest, while the Champaign County Crime Stoppers offered up to $1,000 for information that leads to Pendleton's identification and arrest.

With Sons during the press conference were ISP Trooper Christopher "Joey" Watson, F.B.I. Special Agent in Charge Sean Cox from the Springfield office, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Kevin Castleman.

"We are actively seeking a peaceful resolution to our search for Mr. Pendleton," Sons said. "There doesn't need to be a need for any further violence." Sons said that Pendleton is asked to either turn himself in, or reach out to the State Police.

Sons also stated that the Mahomet Police Officer who Pendleton had wounded will recover.

Officials are actively pursuing leads, including a possible sighting on Tuesday in Rosiclare that they have been unable to confirm. Various members of the community have reported other leads, such as suspicious vehicles, that officers are investigating.

"We are actively continuing with our search," Sons said.

The search for Pendleton lead officials to authorize the closure of an area of the Shawnee National Forest, 640 acres of the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area, on Tuesday.

Pendleton 35, is described as 5 feet, 10 inches, 165 pounds, with strawberry blond hair, and blue eyes. At the last confirmed sighting of Pendleton, he was described as wearing a black shirt, camouflage pants, and boots. Pendleton has shaved his beard and trimmed his hair; an update photo of him is featured with this story.

An arrest warrant was issued by the Champaign County State's Attorney for the charge of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, a Class X felony. Pendleton's bond is set at $5 million. Pendleton was originally charged with Attempted Murder of a Police Officer.

After exchanging gunfire with the Mahomet officer on Saturday, Pendleton fled the scene and has possibly received a gunshot wound to his neck as a result of the shootout in Mahomet, but the severity his wound is unknown. Pendleton also has a prior unrelated knee injury that would possibly cause him to walk with a limp. While reports have speculated that Pendleton lost a finger in the exchange of gunfire in Mahomet, the ISP stated that they believe that information to be false.

Pendleton is considered to be armed and dangerous, and is believed to be possessing an AK-47. It is also possible that he has stolen a 2007 white GMC pick-up truck that bears the Illinois Registration Number 165533B. Featured with this story is a photograph of the truck.

To contact the Champaign County Crime Stoppers, call (866)-765-8327. Those who may have sighted Pendleton are also asked to call 911 or their local law enforcement office, contact the ISP at (618)-542-1483, or the Springfield office of the F.B.I. at (217)-522-9675.