A man who pointed a gun at a police officer and threatened to shoot them, leading to a standoff in Marengo that ended with him being arrested by SWAT, has been sentenced to 170 days in jail.
Jason Petty, 46, of Marengo, was charged in November with multiple counts of threatening a public official, aggravated assault on a peace officer and obstructing a peace officer.
The Marengo Police Department responded around 12:05 a.m. on November 1 to the 1000 block of Briden Drive in Marengo for a disorderly person call.
Marengo Police Department Sgt. Andrew Kjellgren said officers arrived and attempted to make contact with Petty.
Petty was reported to have been yelling at his neighbor, prompting the 911 call.
Petty began making threats of harm toward the neighbor and the officers on the scene, Kjellgren said.
The man appeared at the doorway of an apartment and allegedly displayed a knife while making threats.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Petty told an officer he was going to “plunge” a knife into the officer’s chest.
A grand jury indictment said Petty threatened to bash an officer’s head in with a hammer.
Petty continued to refuse officers’ commands and additional police agencies were called to the scene.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and the Harvard Police Department arrived on the scene to assist.
The McHenry County Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT team was activated and responded.
Petty appeared at the apartment doorway a short time later and pointed a revolver at an officer while continuing to make threats, according to the complaint.
The indictment said Petty verbally threatened to shoot the officer.
Kjellgren said the surrounding apartments were evacuated amid the standoff.
The man came to the door again and was taken into custody at approximately 3:30 a.m. without further incident.
Court records show Petty entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
He pleaded guilty to threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony, and was accepted to the Drug Court Program.
Petty was sentenced to 170 days in jail with day-for-day credit, ordered to complete 100 hours of public service and placed on 30 months of probation.
He has been held in custody since his arrest and with credit for time served, he was released upon the plea deal being accepted by McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer on Thursday.
Petty was ordered to comply with all rules and recommendations of drug court.