Suspect Arrested in Downtown Du Quoin Beating

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A Du Quoin man was so badly beaten New Year's Eve he had to be picked up by an ambulance at the police station and transported to Marshall Browning Hospital where he was airlifted by helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital.

Assistant Chief of Police Jamie Ellermeyer said police have been investigating the beating and armed robbery since it happened and on Wednesday arrested suspect Kenneth Snowden.

The beating and armed robbery took place December 31 between 1:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. in an alley behind BJ's restaurant on West Main Street.

Police say Gerald Waters walked into the Du Quoin Police Department on his own. "It was obvious he had been badly beaten," said Assistant Police Chief Jamie Ellermeyer.

"He had been struck in the head with an object. The investigation is continuing and progressing pretty well," he said. "Mr. Waters had an altercation with Kenneth Snowden of St. Louis. He was struck in the head and an undetermined amount of cash was taken," said Ellermeyer.

He was picked up here at the police station and a helio was waiting to take him to the St. Louis University Hospital."

"Myself and officer (Phil) Schimanski interviewed him (Waters) at the hospital and we expect to issue a warrant for his arrest for armed robbery today (Wednesday)," the assistant chief said Wednesday afternoon.

He said Snowden would be arrested for armed robbery and that the charge of aggravated battery would be added.

Ellermeyer said the two men knew each other.