LAWRENCE CO., Ill.—Three people have been taken to the Lawrence County sheriff’s department in the wake of an incident this morning in Knox County that ended across the river in Lawrence.
According to the information we’ve received thus far, the situation began late morning when a fire was reported at a storage unit in the city of Vincennes.
Authorities notified Lawrence County that three suspects had fled the scene and were believed to have crossed the Memorial Bridge into the Westport area of Lawrence County. They were actually chased to that area by the caller, who had stated that loud popping sounds were heard at the fire at the storage unit, leading authorities to initially believe there might be some ammunition going off in the area.
Lawrence and Knox deputies began converging on the area of Lasata Winery off 33 in Lawrence County, and located a red truck with temp tags on it. One subject took off on foot, but all three were apprehended shortly after 12 noon.
Several boxes, believed to have been from the storage unit where the fire was still ongoing, were found “up on a hill” in the area of the winery. Another box with some “identifying names” on it was found in the vicinity of the old Mahrenholz School just off 33.
One of the three apprehended has been reported to be a 14-year-old juvenile. We’re in touch with Lawrence County Sheriff Russell Adams and will bring names of the other two as soon as we can. One firefighter was injured on the Knox County side; when we learn more on that, we’ll bring it.