One man has been arrested after officers responded to a shots fired call in the first minutes of the new year.
At around 12:15 Monday morning, Galesburg Police officers were dispatched to Brown Avenue were witnesses said that a heavy-set man stepped out of a house in the 1600 block and fired several rounds into the air.
Officers descended on the home, securing the perimeter and finding several spent shell casings on the porch.
According to police reports, officers made contact with the individuals inside the home and conducted searches of them.
One man was identified as having a conceal carry permit, and handed over the weapon and holster he had on him.
A 44-year-old man was searched, were officers allegedly found a clip in his pockets.
A search of the premises turned up a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun in an open drawer. The clip found on the 44-year-old man – identified as Sherrod T. Rodgers of Galesburg, formerly of Alabama – matched the clip for the pistol.
Additionally after interviewing the individuals in the home, Rodgers was ID’d as the man who stepped outside and fired the gun.
According to the reports, Rodgers’ wife told officers he was advised not to fire the gun off in celebration of the new year, but did so anyway.
Officers noted that Rodgers had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.
He was charged with Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, and for being in violation of the FOID Card Act.
Police reports indicate that Rodgers had a gun license in Alabama, but it was not valid for Illinois.
