CAVE-IN-ROCK, Ill.—A hostage situation that unfolded at about 10 pm in the old flower shop in Cave-in-Rock has reportedly ended peacefully at around 11:15pm.
While the finalization of it is somewhat sketchy at this moment, here’s what we learned from earlier: Raymond (“Little Raymond”) Dutton, age approximately 36, was being reported to us by county officials as having holed up at his home (located in the old flower shop building on Route 1) allegedly holding two of his children hostage. Reportedly, the two ranged in age from single digits to teens, but we don’t know their exact ages. We don’t know why he was holding them, except that he’s kind of a weird guy, with wild mood swings, and with recent problems with his wife (reportedly last week), there might have been something that precipitated it embedded in that.
As of an earlier report, Sheriff Joyce Cullison was on the phone to Dutton. The place was surrounded by deputies. The local ambulance service had staged in the park nearby. There were no reports of injuries or anything untoward, just that every precaution was being taken. Dutton has a history/criminal record of drugs, violent behavior, disorderly conduct, assaulting police officers, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Currently, it’s unknown whether Dutton had a weapon or not, however, local law enforcement had spoken with his family and they said he had no weapons in the house because they had possession of the only one there (a .22 pistol). Some reports are trickling out that there was still a .22 there while the situation was unfolding, but that’s totally unconfirmed right now.
Years ago (as many as 15), Dutton reportedly held a minor girl (13-14) hostage after a relationship he was having with her went sour. He was reportedly all strung out on dope, and was afraid she was going to run out and tell people about their relationship, so he held her in a camper trailer in the backyard of his parents’ property. He took her in his car to a party, removed all the door locks from the inside of the car so she couldn’t get out, and locked her in so he could go drinking. Some of the party, reportedly out taking a whizz after drinking, noticed the car moving and upon closer inspection found the girl inside screaming. They got her out, she told them the story, and they proceeded back to the party and inside the house, where they found Dutton, attacked him, dragged him out in front, and beat him badly. His parents found him the next day hanging out of the camper with one of his eyes dislodged from its socket sitting on his cheek. He reportedly had the eye saved at the hospital, only to go on a decade later giving then-sheriff Tommy Seiner shit while he was sheriff, including assaulting him.
We are hearing that the situation is under control….so when we learn more in the morning, we’ll report it.