Peoria, IL – An oversight in a police transport van’s security facilitated an unexpected escape in Illinois.
On the evening of Wednesday, April 3, 2024, Daniel C. Moody, 32, capitalized on a security flaw in a Peoria Police Department transport van to make a brief escape. Moody was in custody for an Aggravated Domestic Battery charge and was en route to the Peoria County Jail when he managed to open a supposedly secured door of the moving van. The incident unfolded around 8:34 p.m. near the intersection of Main Street and N. Parkside, with Moody being recaptured approximately 14 minutes later without further incident.
Further investigation into the escape revealed that the van lacked a crucial locking mechanism meant to prevent such breaches—a factor that directly contributed to Moody’s temporary flight. This lapse in security measures has been promptly addressed, ensuring that all police transport vans are equipped with the necessary safety features to prevent future escapes.
The Peoria Police Department has taken steps to rectify the van’s security flaw and is conducting a thorough review of its transport fleet to enhance prisoner transport safety.
