DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A man involved in an armed robbery incident in Macon County is being held under the alias “John Doe” because he has not disclosed his identity, and authorities are unable to determine who he is.
The crime occurred early Monday morning near South Jasper and East Wood Streets. According to Sergeant Brandon Rolfs of the Decatur Police Department, officers were alerted around 1:35 a.m. about an armed individual in the vicinity; it was revealed the suspect approached a drive-through window of a business while carrying a gun.
“He demanded a lighter to ignite his cigarette,” Rolfs explained. “He was displaying a firearm and intimidated the employee into fearing that he might be harmed if he did not comply by providing a lighter.”
After receiving the lighter, “John Doe” is said to have placed his gun under his arm, lit his cigarette, and then put the lighter on the drive-through window ledge, Rolfs said. As another car arrived, the suspect began leaving the scene.
“He proceeded to the 1100 block of East Main Street, where the officers found him. Upon noticing the officers, the suspect swiftly took a seat in a lawn chair outside a residence,” according to Rolfs. “The police discovered a 9mm pistol tucked in the suspect’s waistband.”
When requested to provide his identity, Rolfs noted the suspect declined. He also refused to collaborate with fingerprinting when taken to the Macon County Jail. Lacking any other means of identification, Rolfs mentioned the suspect was formally processed under the alias “John Doe” and charged with armed robbery.
Rolfs said there is no follow-up report to indicate that “John Doe” has been identified, and while he should have appeared in court on Monday, court records show no recent criminal cases have been filed against someone under the name.
In cases where defendants refuse to identify themselves or cooperate with identifying procedures like fingerprinting, Rolfs said the judge can order them to self-identify or cooperate.
