A Galesburg man who had escaped police custody Wednesday night was in court Friday morning.
27-year-old Davarrious D. Campbell was in custody when he made his first appearance with counsel in Knox County Circuit Court with Public Defender Matthew Thor.
Campbell faces three felonies, including two Class 2 Felonies of Aggravated Domestic Battery and Escaping a Peace Officer, and a Class 4 Felony of Domestic Battery. Circuit Judge Raymond A. Cavanaugh set bail at $10,000.
At 5:36 p.m. on Wednesday, Galesburg police officers responded to the 100 block of Duffield Ave. for a possible domestic battery occurring in an apartment.
According to reports, officers overheard a male and female yelling, specifically hearing a woman yell for help. Officers announced their presence, but were virtually ignored.
Eventually they gained entrance into the residence where officers made contact with the two individuals inside, Campbell being identified as the male.
Officers discovered warrants for both individuals and informed them they would be arrested. Campbell allegedly had told officers he was not going to jail and began resisting. He would be tackled to the ground and handcuffed.
The woman told officers that Campbell had attacked her that evening – allegedly smothering her with a pillow – and again three weeks prior where she was struck with a bottle.
At 6:24 officers, while transporting Campbell to the Knox County Jail, radioed that he had escaped and was now on foot.
Additional GPD officers, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies, and officers from the Illinois State Police all responded to provide assistance with negative results. A K-9 unit was also on scene and began tracking Campbell.
Review of the in-car video showed Campbell force a hand free from the handcuffs and he was able to open the squad car door from the outside.
At 10:30 officers received a tip that Campbell was in the area of Baird and Ohio Avenue, and just after 11:18 officers spotted him exiting a residence on foot.
A pursuit followed and he was apprehended and taken to the Knox County Jail for processing.
With Campbell facing an aggravated Class 2 Felony he could see a maximum prison sentence of 14 years – on that charge alone. Additionally police had brought two counts of resisting a peace officer against him, but those charges were not filed by the State’s Attorney.
Online court records indicate that Campbell has had a history of being charged with domestic violence. He plead guilty in 2010, and 2014 for domestic battery charges – among other things.
Court records indicate that Campbell had charges brought against him last year for a separate domestic violence related crime. He is still awaiting trial for that case.
