On Monday, December 5th, at approximately 5:36am, Rock Falls Police responded to a battery that was reported to have occurred in the 1900 block of Canal Street. The victim reported to police they were battered by Dayton J. Hicks, 27, a family or household member of the victim.
It was alleged Hicks was armed with a handgun at the time of the battery. Hicks fled the scene prior to police arriving.
A short time later, Rock Falls Police learned that Hicks was at a residence in the 2000 block of Walnut Street in rural Rock Falls. Rock Falls officers, along with deputies from the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Sterling Police Department responded to that location and attempted to take Hicks into custody.
Hicks was determined to be in an upstairs bedroom, possibly armed with a handgun, with other occupants still inside the residence. Officers and deputies maintained a perimeter around the house and worked for several hours.
With minimal progress being made, tactics were changed by police and after removing a small child and adult from the residence, police were able to gain access and secure the first floor to continue talks with Hicks. Hicks eventually surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody at approximately 10:25am.
The suspect was initially taken into custody on an outstanding Whiteside County Warrant for Unlawful Use/Possession of a Firearm by a Felon related to a previous investigation. Hicks was transported to Whiteside County Jail.
Following the arrest of Hicks, a search was conducted, and a semi-automatic handgun matching the weapon described by the victim of the battery was recovered.
Rock Falls Police submitted complaints to the Whiteside County States Attorney to charge Hicks with Aggravated Battery, Domestic Battery, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon. These charges are pending review by the States Attorney.
Rock Falls Police were assisted during this incident by the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, Sterling Police Department, and the Illinois State Police.
All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court of law.
