MURPHYSBORO, Ill.—The situation that was reported emerging from Murphysboro in Jackson County yesterday came to an end shortly after we reported it here, officials stated early this morning.
The ‘situation’ was a standoff that resulted in the evacuation of many homes in the vicinity of 18th and Pine streets in that town, and went on from 1 p.m. until about 4:40, when Michael Blacklock, 41, was taken into custody at 4:40 p.m. without incident.
Sources had told us yesterday at about 3:30 that officials had been “keeping an eye on” Blacklock for a full 24 hours before the situation erupted, at which time Blacklock barricaded himself in his house and claimed he had a weapon. That resulted from a 12:30 p.m. complaint on Thursday of a reckless driver on North 17th Street…which turned out to be Blacklock, who had already left the scene reported and had gone into his home by the time police arrived. Police tried to contact Blacklock on Thursday night, were unable to do so, and continued to keep his home under surveillance from that point.
The consideration that he was armed came after threat to neighbors had been reported; at that point, police closed off and secured the entire block and brought in an Illinois State Police negotiations team. Residents in the area of the evacuation told Disclosure at about 3:30 that everything was tense but orderly, and other than the heavy police presence, there was nothing outwardly concerning going on at Blacklock’s, and they praised law enforcement’s management of the whole scene.
Upon Blacklock’s emergence and surrender, he was charged with a count of Reckless Driving and a count of Intimidation, and taken to jail. He’s being held in lieu of $500,000 bail ($50,000 cash bond).
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