On 03/15/24 at about 5:00 pm the Fairview Heights Police Department responded to the area of Lincoln Highway and North Illinois to investigate a road rage incident. Responding officers were told a water bottle was thrown from a blue sedan and the driver of the blue sedan said, and/or inferred, she had firearm. Officers from Fairview Heights and O’Fallon Police Departments located and stopped the suspect vehicle in the parking lot near Penn Station (2085 W Highway 50).
The driver of the blue sedan, Ashley Walker (Cahokia Heights), refused to cooperate with officers on scene and would not exit her vehicle. The Fairview Heights Police Department quickly investigated the road rage incident establishing probable cause of a crime. The victim indicated she wanted to pursue criminal charges against Walker. Walker was advised she was under arrest and still refused to cooperate with officers on scene or exit her vehicle. Less lethal force options were deployed on the blue sedan (Pepper ball projectiles) which yielded immediate compliance from Walker. Walker was taken into police custody without injury.
The following criminal charges are being pursued by the Fairview Heights Police Department: Ashley D Walker – Assault and Disorderly Conduct.
Walker was transported to the O’Fallon Police Department for charges related to crimes that occurred in their venue.
Every person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The officers showed an immense amount of professionalism against a physically uncooperative criminal suspect. Use of the pepper ball quickly deescalated the illegally resisting suspect without any injuries. – Chief Steve Johnson