A detention hearing for an Alabama man accused of pointing a gun at police is set for Thursday afternoon in Tazewell County.
Brian Childers, 45, of Leighton, Alabama, was granted pretrial release in Peoria County last week after being arrested for allegedly resisting arrest and pointing a gun at Peoria police officers.
Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria said police had attempted to pull Childers over March 18, but he drove away. The reason for the traffic stop is unknown.
Police did not pursue, but found the vehicle later that day. He allegedly pointed a gun at the officers when they approached the vehicle and drove away again. He was eventually arrested in East Peoria in Tazewell County.
WCBU filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the police report and body camera footage pertaining to the incident. The Peoria Police Department denied that request in its entirety, citing an ongoing investigation. WCBU is appealing the denial to the Illinois Attorney General Office's Public Access Counselor.
Childers is charged in Peoria County with aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine and traffic violations.
The Peoria County State's Attorney's office filed a petition to deny Childers pretrial release, but he was freed with electronic monitoring. Echevarria blasted Judge Mark Gilles for that decision at a hastily-called news conference last Friday.
For the same incident, Childers was charged in Tazewell County with armedvViolence and two counts for possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested Friday by Peoria Police on a no bond warrant issued in Tazewell County.
Court records show the Tazewell County State's Attorney's office filed a petition to deny Childers pretrial release. Judges have limited leeway for ordering pretrial detention under the law.
Childers appeared virtually in court Monday. His detainment hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday.
