BRADLEY – One officer is dead and another in critical condition Thursday morning after responding to a call last night of dogs barking in a hotel parking lot.
According to reports, it happened at 9:41 pm when two Bradley police officers responded to a call at the Comfort Inn off Route 50 of dogs barking in an empty vehicle inside the parking lot. Officers reportedly found where the vehicle’s owners were staying and attempted talking to the occupants inside a hotel room when the individuals attacked the officers.
A SWAT team later arrived on the scene.
Both officers were taken to a nearby hospital where one died, the other remains in critical condition. Kankakee County Coroner’s office announced Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic was killed in the attack.
Rittmanic was part of the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Deputy from 2000 through 2007 and has been with the Bradley Police Department since 2007. Rittmanic was promoted to Sergeant in 2014.
A procession in honor of Bradley Police Department Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic will be held later today, leaving the Bryan R Mitchell MD Forensic Center at 2:00 pm before ending at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. Those who wish to pay their respects and honor Sergeant Rittmanic are encouraged to safely gather on sidewalks along the route.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Darius D. Sullivan who police say should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be confronted.
“Do NOT attempt to confront Sullivan! If you know his whereabouts, please contact law enforcement by calling one of the numbers above or 911!” the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Thursday morning. Bradley Police Chief Donald Barber announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Sullivan.
Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information on Sullivan’s whereabouts can call the Illinois State Police Hotline at 815-698-2315 or call anonymously to CRIMESTOPPERS at 815-93-CRIME.
