Rockford man safely in custody after threatening to use handgun at Public Safety Building following domestic battery arrest

Online Staff Report

Lilrobert Adams, 20, of Rockford, has been charged with unlawful restraint, obstructing identification and resisting/obstructing an officer after threatening officers with a firearm following his Jan. 18 arrest for domestic battery.

Shortly after 5:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 18, Rockford police responded to an address in the 700 block of 10th Avenue in reference to a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, officers met with the victim, who advised she had been battered by the suspect, Adams. Officers located Adams in the area, and placed him under arrest after a brief foot pursuit and struggle.

Adams was handcuffed, searched and placed in a squadrol van. When asked for his name, Adams provided a fictitious name to the on-scene officers.

Squadrol officers arrived and transported Adams to the Public Safety Building. While enroute to the Public Safety Building, Adams informed the transporting officers he had a firearm on his person and he was going to come out of the van shooting. The squadrol officers secured the van in the basement of the Public Safety Building.

The Rockford Police Department SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiation Team and Bomb Squad responded to assist with the incident. At approximately 11:30 a.m., Adams was safely removed from the squadrol van and was taken into custody without incident.

Adams was later held in the Winnebago County Jail.

According to a press release from the Rockford Police Department, “the safe resolution of this incident was due to the quality work of the SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Bomb Squad and other officers involved. ”

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department and Winnebago County Courthouse Security Team also assisted in bringing the incident to a safe resolution.

Posted Jan. 19, 2013