Freeport, IL – A confrontation at a Freeport Walmart escalated into a dramatic chase, culminating in a teen allegedly tossing a gun into a cemetery.
According to Freeport police reports it happened early Wednesday when officers were alerted to a fight at the local Walmart, where 18-year-old Ruben Bell, a resident of Freeport, was reportedly involved and seen with a firearm. When officers attempted to engage Bell for questioning, he fled, initiating a pursuit across the Walmart parking lot and into the adjacent Chapel Hill Memorial Grounds Cemetery. According to police reports, during the chase, Bell was observed discarding a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine into the grass.
The pursuit ended with Bell’s arrest and the recovery of the firearm. An officer sustained a hand injury during the incident. Bell now faces felony charges, including Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Resisting a Peace Officer, which resulted in injury. He is currently held at the Stephenson County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing. The Stephenson County State’s Attorney reminds the public that Bell is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
