Police Announce Arrest of Man Who Endangered Children in Car on DeKalb’s South Side

On Thursday, April 21st, 2016, at 3:51 pm, a DeKalb Police officer was performing crossing guard duties at the intersection of Taylor and First Streets, insuring grade school children could safely cross the street after school. While on the street stopping westbound traffic for children who were approaching the intersection, the officer observed a vehicle disobey the stop sign going westbound and drive around a vehicle that had stopped in traffic. The offending driver was ordered several times to stop and pull to the side of the street, he came to a stop, and made a gesture that he understood the officer.

The offending driver suddenly began to accelerate his vehicle, steering it directly at the officer in the roadway, the officer jumped out of the way of the oncoming vehicle to avoid being struck, and the offender fled the scene. The officer was able to obtain the license plate number of the vehicle, a vehicle and suspect description, and broadcast a radio message to other officers. The DeKalb Police, NIU Police, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area to search for the offender and the vehicle that had endangered children in the area and narrowly missed striking the officer.

During the ensuing search for the offender a DeKalb Police officer located the vehicle in the driveway at 122 Gurler Street, as the officer approached the vehicle he observed the offender flee into a residence. Additional officers responded to the scene, the offender Charles D. Gunn ultimately surrendered to police, and was taken into custody. The offender was charged with Aggravated Assault to a Police Officer and several traffic offenses, he was subsequently transported to the DeKalb County Jail. The offender has had numerous contacts with police to include two previous convictions for assault.

Arrestee: Charles D. Gunn, M/B, 31 years of age, 507 E. Taylor Street, Apt. #706, DeKalb, IL

Gunn was charged with the following criminal and traffic offenses:

• Aggravated Assault, Class 3 Felony
• Reckless Driving, Class A Misdemeanor
• Driving While Revoked
• Improper Lane Usage
• Disobey a Police Officer
• Disobeyed Stop Sign