U.S. Marshals apprehended a Sangamon County man on Monday in relation to a month long investigation into a burglary out of rural Petersburg.
On November 15th at 1:47AM, Menard County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a reported burglary in progress at the Parkside Tavern in rural Petersburg. While en route, deputies encountered a vehicle they believed to be occupied by the suspects of the burglary. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle but the vehicle refused to stop and fled. Deputies pursued the vehicle into the City of Springfield with the assistance of multiple Sangamon County law enforcement agencies. The vehicle eventually stopped in the 2600 block of South College Street in Springfield and the occupants fled the scene on foot. Attempts to locate the suspects were unsuccessful. However, evidence from the suspect vehicle was obtained.
A lengthy investigation followed, according to the Menard County Sheriff’s Department, and through the assistance of multiple agencies, officials identified 33 year old Jonathan P. Ballard of Riverton as a suspect in multiple burglaries in both Menard and Sangamon Counties. Subsequent arrest warrants were issued out of both counties.
On Monday, Ballard was taken into custody in Riverton by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force. He is currently being held at the Sangamon County Jail on bond on charges of burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, and possession of burglary tools.
The Menard County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains open and members of the public with further information are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Menard & Sangamon Counties at 217-788-8427.