HARRISBURG, Ill.—Saline County authorities have confirmed that a man who escaped from an Illinois State Police cruiser last night in town remains at large.
Arnold S. Cornett, 26, was in the process of being arrested last night shortly before midnight (Monday, March 24, 2014) after he was detained by an Illinois State Police trooper in Harrisburg. We don’t have the details of the reason for detainment (whether it was a traffic stop, pedestrian, or other call); all we know is that Cornett was handcuffed and placed in the back of an ISP squad, when for whatever reason, the trooper, described as “being distracted” by something, was not watching Cornett…and the man escaped from the back of the car.
As of today at 12:30 when we checked with Saline County dispatch, Cornett has not been apprehended.
He’s been described as sporting long hair and a beard, and wearing a green army jacket and black pants…and likely, still handcuffed. No word on whether he’s considered dangerous. If we learn more, we’ll post it; keep watching.