Braceville, Illinois – A stolen vehicle investigation led to an early-morning arrest and assault on an officer near Illinois Route 53.
According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at 4:04 a.m. Saturday to a report of a vehicle stopped in the roadway at Illinois Route 53 and Huston Road in Braceville.
When deputies arrived, they found a 2015 Toyota pickup truck stopped in the middle of the road with its hazard lights activated. A license plate check revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Champaign, Illinois, authorities said.
Deputies asked the male occupant to exit the vehicle, but he allegedly refused. The Braidwood Police Department responded to assist. During the encounter, a struggle occurred, and authorities said the suspect head-butted a Braidwood police officer. A deputy then deployed a Taser, after which the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
The suspect was transported to the Grundy County Jail.
Authorities identified the arrested individual as Matthew J. Baumgartner, 27, of Wisconsin. Baumgartner was arrested on allegations of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated battery to a police officer, according to the sheriff’s office. All charges are allegations pending formal court proceedings.
No serious injuries were reported as a result of the incident, and the condition of the involved officers was not disclosed.
The incident resulted in a brief law enforcement presence near IL-53, a commonly traveled route for early-morning commuters in the Braceville and Braidwood area.
The investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released by authorities as it becomes available.
