Official Report Released: Rescue Workers Credit Deputy’s Bravery
A Bushnell man is being held in the McDonough County Jail on 10 counts after he allegedly deliberately rammed his vehicle into a McDonough County Sheriff deputy’s squad car following an incident near 84 Murphy Road in Bushnell during the early evening hours of March 21.
Edward C. Anderson, 49, of 88 Murphy Rd., Bushnell, appeared in a detention hearing Monday in McDonough County Circuit Court. A public defender was appointed, and during the hearing, Judge Nigel Graham ruled Anderson should remain in the custody of the county jail. A preliminary hearing has been set for April 15.
Ander has been charged by the Illinois State Police with attempted battery with a deadly weapon, attempted aggravated battery of a peace officer, driving under the influence of alcohol and criminal damage to state property $10,000-$100,000, and by the Bushnell Police Department (BPD) with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, resisting a police officer, domestic battery, aggravated battery and aggravated fleeing and eluding.
On Saturday, police were called to Murphy Road in rural Bushnell after Anderson allegedly physically assaulted his neighbor. McDonough County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Deputy Katie Norton has been credited with saving the lives of several rescue personnel who were at the scene.
According to Bushnell Police Chief Justin Hood, Bushnell Police Officer Kristina Johnson was the first officer on the scene. Hood explained while Johnson was tending to the individuals who were injured in the scuffle, Anderson left the scene and fled in his Jeep Liberty. Johnson pursued Anderson east on Murphy Road at a high rate of speed, following the department’s pursuit policy, Hood noted. While Johnson was in pursuit, Norton ran back to her squad car when she heard on the radio that Anderson had turned around and was driving his vehicle directly at the Bushnell Rescue Squad and other officers gathered at the scene, McDonough County Nick Petitgout told The Community News Brief on Monday.
“Deputy Norton pulled her squad car in front of the scene to shield the other officers and rescue workers. She escaped the vehicle seconds before Anderson’s car plowed through it, going about 30-40 miles per hour,” the sheriff said. “She saved several people as we believe he was aiming for these rescue workers and Anderson allegedly admitted to the ISP that he was intentionally driving toward them.”
One of the rescue workers who is thankful for Norton’s quick actions is Bushnell Fire Department EMT Brent Glisan, a 34-year department veteran. Glisan, who was on the scene that evening, said without Norton’s quick actions, the event could have turned out much differently.
“Officer Norton and I were in direct communication right before it happened, and I was trying to get people back. She knew there wasn’t enough time for us to get out of the way because we had people in the back of the rescue squad, so she positioned her squad car across the road. There was less than 100 feet from her car and our rescue squad. There was no way we could’ve moved our truck and the people in the back to safety,” Glisan explained. “If she wouldn’t have put her car there, there would have been nothing there to stop him. Her actions kept all of us safe, and she got out of her car just in time. It all happened pretty fast.”
Bushnell Fire Department EMS Coordinator Jeff Rench, who’s in his 26th year with the department, echoed his colleague’s appreciation for the deputy’s swift reaction to the incident as it unfolded.
“Honestly, I think without her quick actions and bravery, it could’ve been a very grim situation,” Rench added. “We got word that he (Anderson) turned around and Officer Norton parked her vehicle in front of ours. Looking back on it, if she wouldn’t have placed her vehicle where she did, he would have hit us. I remember looking up and seeing headlights and seeing Officer Norton just get out of her car in time before he hit the vehicle. We can’t express how thankful we are for her quick actions and thinking so quickly to protect us.”
A McDonough County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO) report obtained by The Community News Brief via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), notes the county’s 911 dispatch center received notification around 7:31 p.m. Saturday that Bushnell Officer Kristina Johnson was called to Murphy Road for a domestic battery, with a request for assistance from the MSCO. According to the dispatch call, a woman had been pushed to the ground, and a male subject was bleeding after he was allegedly struck by Anderson. The report further stated that BPD Officer Johnson stated she was on the scene, and the scene was secure so Bushnell Rescue could proceed to treat the victims. Johnson also called to county units that the suspect was “very intoxicated.”
Upon the arrival of Deputy Norton, she asked for the location of the alleged aggressor (Anderson), and when Johnson pointed next door, Norton saw Anderson walking with a pack of beer in his hand toward his vehicle. As Norton was walking toward Anderson, the report states Anderson got into the driver’s seat, with the deputy ordering him to exit the vehicle. When Norton approached the car and attempted to open the door, Anderson put the car into drive and drove through the yard and an adjacent church parking lot, and onto the road. Johnson then pursued Anderson in her Bushnell squad car.
“I heard Officer Johnson call out on the radio that the suspect had turned around and was coming back west,” Norton stated in the MCSO report. “Out of concern for the Bushnell Rescue personnel, I moved my squad car diagonally across the road facing northeast in front of the rescue vehicle. I saw headlights and exited my vehicle. When I was approximately two steps away from my patrol vehicle, I heard the impact of the vehicles and turned around to see the two wrecked cars.”
Following the crash, Anderson, who received minor injuries, was removed from the vehicle by Norton, and, with assistance from Johnson, was restrained. Anderson was assessed for his injuries and transported to McDonough District Hospital, where he was later arrested by Illinois State Police troopers.
According to the county’s judicial database, Judici, and a report from Bushnell PD via FOIA, Anderson has had contact with police in the past. On May 11, 2024, Bushnell Police were called to his home for a domestic disturbance after he allegedly struck his wife and discharged a firearm into the floor during the altercation. While charges were not filed, the incident precipitated a court-ordered removal of weapons from his possession. He has also had numerous unknown traffic charges in McDonough County over the years and in November 2006, Anderson was arrested on aggravated assault/deadly weapon charges. He pleaded guilty in August 2007 and was sentenced to 18 months supervision.
