Sequence of events leads to Percy man's arrest
<p dir="ltr"><span>A 34-year-old Percy man, Kenneth R. Miller Jr., is facing charges of arson, burglary and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer after a series of events early Tuesday morning.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to a news release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Steeleville police officers and firefighters - along with RCSO deputies - responded to a suspicious fire around 4:41 a.m. at Miller’s residence at 1005 Green Street, just outside of Steeleville village limits.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Sheriff Shannon Wolff said deputies had executed a search warrant at the house mid-to-late morning of the previous day.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>“We did locate some illegal drugs in the house,” he said.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Steeleville Fire Chief Rich Reitz told the Herald Tribune fire was coming out of the window of the back bedroom when firefighters arrived, and it had burned through the ceiling of the bedroom into the second story.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>No one was at home at the time.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>“The police were the first on-scene,” Reitz said. “It was turned in by one of our firefighters, who is a city employee and happened to be driving by.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>“If (the fire) had went any longer, it would have gotten into the rafters more than it did.”</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Reitz said firefighters got a quick knock on the fire, but there is extensive damage inside the home. An exact cause is still under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The story only gets stranger from there.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Law enforcement attending the fire later recognized Miller in his car, a 2003 Mitsubishi, as he drove past the scene.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Police gave chase, attempting to stop him at 5:11 a.m., but Miller allegedly refused to stop for officers.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Around 5:46 a.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a burglar alarm at Pyramid Oaks Golf Course, where a cash register and other items were taken from the Scuttle Inn Lounge. Sources at the golf course told the Herald Tribune Miller allegedly gained entry and exit by breaking a window next to the pro shop.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>That window was covered with plywood on Wednesday. Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services assisted with the burglary investigation.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Slightly more than three hours later, at 8:52 a.m., Miller called 911 to report he was the victim of a battery. Law enforcement then located Miller and his vehicle, with police allegedly recovering evidence of the burglary.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>A subsequent investigation of the arson and burglary led to Miller’s arrest. Miller was taken to the Randolph County Jail, where he remained as of Wednesday morning.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to the Randolph County State’s Attorney’s office, Miller’s bond was set $75,000, with 10 percent applied. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 16 at 10 a.m.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>“I’m not even sure that would have taken place in our jurisdiction,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker, when asked about the alleged battery incident. “From my recollection, that may be possibly in a different county.”</span>