Published on June 8, 2026 6:16 am
Last Updated on June 8, 2026 1:47 pm
An Effingham man has been arrested after barricading himself in a residence late Sunday afternoon.
39-year-old William R. Allen has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, domestic battery with previous convictions, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer. The arrest came after Allen barricaded himself in a residence in the 200 block of North 4th Street. The initial incident was reported to Effingham city police at approximately 5:01pm as an assault involving a machete.
When officers reached the scene, they discovered one person with minor injuries. Officers then learned that Allen had retreated to the basement of the residence, and that a minor was located on the main floor. Officers were able to make entry to the residence and get the minor to safety.
Officers then made verbal contact with Allen, but he refused multiple requests to come out of the basement. Once Allen barricaded himself inside the residence, other law enforcement agencies arrived to assist, including the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Special Response Team. A search warrant was obtained to gain access to the dwelling. Approximately two hours after the incident began, but prior to execution of the search warrant, Allen agreed to comply with commands and surrendered without incident.
Allen was transported to HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital for an evaluation and then booked into Effingham County Jail.
An initial court appearance was held today to determine eligibility for continued detention under the Pre-Trial Fairness Act. During the hearing, probable cause for detention was found and Allen was denied pre-trial release. The Court found proof that Allen committed a detainable offense and that he poses a specific threat to both the victim as well as the community in general, as he has multiple convictions for domestic battery. Also, he allegedly committed the new offenses while on probation for a felony in Coles County and is on pre-trial release on a felony charge in Sangamon County.
Effingham Police Chief Kurt Davis praised the patience, discipline, and unified response, stating, “I want to commend the officers, deputies, negotiators, and emergency personnel whose coordinated efforts led to the safe resolution of this incident. Situations like these highlight the importance of strong interagency partnerships and a commitment to protecting lives. Because of the professionalism and teamwork, the neighborhood was secured, the subject was safely taken into custody, and no injuries were reported.”
During this incident, Effingham Police were assisted by Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, ILEAS SRT, Effingham County States Attorney’s Office, Rural Med EMS, and Effingham Fire Department.
The victim declined medical treatment at the scene. As a result, the individual’s current medical condition is unknown. Consistent with privacy considerations, no additional medical information will be released.
Effingham police detectives are continuing their investigation.
