Man Arrested After Pulling Gun on State Senator
Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) came “face to face with an armed assailant” in Springfield this week.
A State Senator who was key in major changes to the state’s criminal justice system earlier this year was threatened by a man with a gun while in Springfield this weekend.
Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) confirmed he was the victim in the confrontation.
The Springfield Police Department reported the suspect, Michael Hoyle, 54, had pulled a handgun and showed it to Sims while the two were driving on Springfield’s west side. Police said a nearby officer pulled over Hoyle and arrested him. a .40 caliber handgun was found in the vehicle.
We asked Sims for his perspective on the incident.
“The tragic events that took place on Jan. 6 in Washington D.C. had already heightened my concern for attacks on elected officials as I left the Capitol complex Monday and came face to face with an armed assailant. As I spoke with my wife on the phone, a man began following my vehicle, tried to make me hit his vehicle and pulled a gun while yelling, “Let’s go.” I immediately sped off and called 9-1-1.
I can’t speak to what motivated his behavior but I will say this: If this was a response to the recently approved SAFE-T Act, or any other legislation or positions I have endorsed as an elected representative of the people of the 17th Senate District, it has only hardened my resolve to create a safer Illinois. Progress invites backlash, always. I appreciate the law enforcement officers who have worked to keep me and my family safe at home and in my Capitol and District offices. I have committed my career to protecting crime survivors and making communities more safe and now, like so many other crime survivors, I place my faith in the justice system to protect the public and my interest to keep a repeat of this disturbing behavior from happening.”
Hoyle, who is from New Berlin, a community of around 1,500 in western Sangamon County, was arrested on preliminary charges of unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm despite having a revoked Firearm Owners Identification card, aggravated assault/use of a deadly weapon and possession of ammunition with no valid FOID card.
Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright did not return a message from The Illinoize, but told the State-Journal Register he is awaiting reports from police detectives before making a final decision on charges against Hoyle. The SJ-R reported Hoyle posted $15,000 cash to be released on bond.
