A Kewanee man wanted on a $75,000 warrant was arrested with drugs and guns after fleeing from police through Henry and Stark Counties on Wednesday. Tyler Westefer, 20, of Kewanee failed to show for his Preliminary Hearing on Monday and an arrest warrant for $75,000 (10%) was issued. The Kewanee Police Department have charges pending against Westefer for leaving the scene of an accident on October 7, 2022. Westefer is also a person of interest in several investigations and was believed to be armed. On November 9, 2022, Kewanee Police were attempting to locate Tyler Westefer when they located a vehicle believed to be associated with Westefer at a relative’s house. Around 11 AM on Wednesday, officers observed a female in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and a male subject matching Westefer’s description putting items into the vehicle. Officers followed the vehicle as it left the residence when the vehicle began to drive at a high rate of speed away from police. Officers activated the squad car lights and sirens to attempt a traffic stop but the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through Kewanee and Henry and Stark Counties. The vehicle reached speeds of over 100 MPH multiple times, disobeyed traffic control devices and traveled through parking lots in an attempt to elude law enforcement. The vehicle stopped near Highway 78 and 100 North, near Black Hawk College East Campus, when Tyler Westefer fled on foot from the vehicle. Westefer was apprehended soon after running from the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Samantha Engholm, 21, of Toulon was arrested without incident. Black Hawk College was briefly on lockdown during the incident. A bullet proof vest, approximately 365.7 grams of suspected cannabis and $1,890 in cash was found inside the vehicle. A witness observed the passenger of the vehicle throwing items from the fleeing vehicle. A Henry County Deputy located a high-capacity magazine drum containing 52 9mm rounds, a semi-automatic 9mm pistol, 32 loose 9mm rounds and a broken extended 9mm pistol magazine along the pursuit route.
Westefer and Engholm were transported to the Kewanee Police Department where they were booked, fingerprinted and then transported to the Henry County Jail. On November 10th, the State’s Attorney’s Office filed formal charges against Westefer with bond set at $250,000 (10%). Westefer was charged with Aggravated Unlawful use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony), Obstructing Justice (Class 4 Felony), Possession of Cannabis 100-500 Grams (Class 4 Felony), Possession with Intent to Deliver Cannabis 100-500 Grams (Class 3 Felony). A Preliminary Hearing is scheduled for November 21, 2022, at 1 PM. Case number 2022CF315. Westefer is charged with Criminal Trespass with Persons Present and Mob Action from a July 29, 2022, incident, Case number 2022CF238.
Engholm was charged with Fleeing and Eluding (Class 4 Felony), Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 3 Felony), Reckless Driving (Class A Misdemeanor) and numerous traffic offenses on November 10th. Her bond was set at $25,000 (10%). A Preliminary Hearing is scheduled for November 14, 2022, at 2 PM. Case number 2022CF316
The Kewanee Police Department was assisted in this incident by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Stark County Sheriff’s Office and the Black Hawk College Police Department.
