Energy Salesman Pulls Gun on Illinois Resident – Urbana, IL

A dangerous interaction in Urbana, Illinois resulted in an armed “high risk” response by police, and the outcome raises a lot of questions about public safety and police documentation.   

On March 13^th, 2020, an energy salesman ignored signs prohibiting soliciting and entered an apartment complex to attempt to convince individual residents to switch energy providers.  At one of the apartments, the salesman engaged in an argument with the resident who wanted the salesman to leave his property.  The resident had two children inside the apartment.

During the argument, the Urbana resident is alleged to have raised or swung his arm in the direction of the salesman to get him to leave, but the resident denies making any such threatening gestures.

Then the energy salesman pulled out a concealed pistol and pointed it at the resident’s chest.  According to a witness nearby, the energy salesman said “I’ll blow your head off”. 

The salesman then fled and drove off in a cream colored minivan with his partner (UPDATE: the salesman’s partner was wanted for theft in Boone County).

Police were called and Urbana officers located the minivan and performed a “high risk traffic stop”, pointing their rifles at the van and occupants until they were detained.  The salesman’s partner was arrested when Urbana Police learned of two outstanding warrants in different counties.

The salesman was found to be in possession of a concealed carry permit and his gun was returned to him.  Officers performed interviews and decided that even though the salesman had trespassed and pointed a gun at an unarmed resident, the salesman was the “victim”, and the resident was the “offender”. 

Urbana Police concluded that the gun-wielding energy salesman believed to be in fear for his life and was justified in threatening the resident at his home.  Officers asked the salesman if he wished to pursue criminal charges against the unarmed Urbana resident, but he declined.

Thus far, the City of Urbana has concealed the identity of the energy salesman and the company that he works for.  Check CU is making follow up requests with the City to have that information disclosed in accordance with the public interest clause of the Freedom of Information Act.  We are also inquiring with both Boone and Winnebago Counties to determine the nature of the arrest warrants for the energy salesman’s partner.

The redacted police reports for the March 13^th, 2020 incident (labeled U20-01195 by the Urbana Police Department) are provided below.