Two charged with burglary in wake of Whiteside County deputy’s shooting

Photo of an emergency light

MORRISON –  Two people apparently involved in Monday’s shooting of an unidentified Whiteside County sheriff’s deputy were charged today with burglary.

Erik K. Jaramillo Garcia, 38, and Denise Nicole Williams, 31, both of Beloit, Wisconsin, each was charged in Whiteside County Court with two counts of burglary, which carries 3 to 7 years in prison, and misdemeanor trespass to a residence.

Garcia also is charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing an officer, a felony punishable by 1 to 3 years, and obstructing identification and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, both misdemeanors.

Bond was set at $150,000 for Garcia, and $25,000 for Williams. Neither had bonded out as of 5 p.m.

Each has a preliminary hearing Oct. 18.

The deputy was shot in the area of Hillside and Fulfs roads near Union Grove while trying to find the two, who fled on foot after a vehicle pursuit, Sheriff John Booker said in a news release.

The deputy remained hospitalized today but is expected to be released Wednesday, Booker said.

No further details on the shooting or whether additional charges are pending were provided.

According to court records, Garcia and Williams broke into a home, its garage and a vehicle on Hillside Road, and Garcia, who was driving, hit a Union Pacific Railroad crossing service box at Fulfs and Hillside as they fled. He then provided a false name to the arresting officer.

Kathleen Schultz

Kathleen A. Schultz

Kathleen Schultz is a Sterling native with 40 years of reporting and editing experience in Arizona, California, Montana and Illinois.