advertisement

Missing truck located in search for Pendleton

The truck believed to be stolen by Dracy "Clint" Pendleton after exchanging gunfire with a Mahomet police officer, wounding the officer, was located in the area where authorities have been searching for Pendleton.

In a press conference in Mitchellsville on Thursday, Illinois State Police District 13/22 Commander Captan William Sons said that the truck had been located in the area where Pendleton is believed to be, or has frequented, since fleeing Mahomet on Saturday. Although the truck, a 2007 white GMC pickup, has been located, the ISP still have not made contact with Pendleton.

"The weather is definitely going to be a challenge for him; it's a challenge for us," Sons said. "The sooner we can end this, the better off everybody will be."

A former resident of the area, Pendleton has been believed to be hiding in, or is around the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area of the Shawnee National Forest. Pendleton has been said to have experience as a "survivalist," and has formerly lived in the area. When asked where Pendleton gained this training, Sons said that most likely Pendleton was trained locally.

A portion of the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area, 640 acres, has been closed for the search since Monday. Although access to the area is still closed, Sons advised those who will be in the vicinity of Lusk Creek to use caution. The Lusk Creek Area has been described as "rugged", with multiple geographical features, like thick forests and undergrowth, caves, elevation changes, cliffs, and bluffs.

"The fact that the area is closed, is just for public safety. Law enforcement, as we're searching, we don't want to have a lot of other citizens or tourists or people in harm's way or out there while we're conducting our searches," Sons said.

While searching for Pendleton, authorities have followed up on several leads, including a possible sighting in Rosiclare that has yet to be confirmed. Residents in area communities have also called in or reported multiple tips or possible sightings to authorities. Sons also announced that law enforcement will increase saturation patrols in the area, meaning a stronger presence of police, FBI, and other officials.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information that directly leads to the arrest or identification of Pendleton, while the Champaign County Crime Stoppers have offered a reward of up to $1,000 for the same information.

Pendleton, 35, is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 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; a digitally rendered photo of Pendleton with no facial hair is included with this story.

After the incident on Saturday, Pendleton fled the scene, possibly having received a gunshot wound to the neck as a result of the shootout. The severity of the wound is unknown. Unrelated to the shooting, Pendleton also has a prior 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, Sons has stated that those reports are believed to be false.

Pendleton is considered to be armed and dangerous, and is believed to be possessing an AK-47.

Sons reiterated that authorities are actively seeking a peaceful resolution with Pendleton, and have encouraged him to reach out to authorities, or to turn himself in.

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.