A public defender has been appointed in the case of a Galesburg man facing over a half-dozen weapon, and drug felony charges.
On Thursday, 26-year-old Edward E. P. Wanlass made a video appearance in Knox County Circuit Court with Judge Raymond A. Cavanaugh.
Wanlass faces several felonies, the most severe are two counts of Class X Armed Violence, which carry a statutory prison sentence of 6-30 years each.
According to police reports, officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of E. Berrien Street at around 7:30 on Wednesday night in reference to a domestic battery call. Dispatch advised that a male subject had kicked in a door and chased a female out of the residence.
Another call to dispatch identified the male as Wanlass, and alleged that he attacked a female with a knife. It was reported that he had left the residence.
Officers made contact with the victim who stated her boyfriend had kicked in the back door and threatened to kill her. At one point she says he came after her with a knife.
She told officers she ran from the residence fearing for her life. At one point, she alleges that Wanlass also threatened to choke her with a phone charger cable.
Police reports note that the victim also told officers that Wanlass and her share a child, and that he threatened the life of the child if she contacted the police. She did so anyway, and told him she had.
That’s when he allegedly ran and got into a vehicle and left.
Officers located a knife in the home, which the victim identified as being the one he came after her with. Officers also found gun cleaning supplies, a bi-pod, targets, ammo case, rifle ammo with stripper clips, 22LR ammo and a gun sight.
Also found was a “significant amount” of drug paraphernalia, including ziplock baggies and scales. Some of the loose baggies contained a white powder substance and several ziplock baggies had white powder residue inside them.
The victim told officers she was unaware of the drug paraphernalia and firearm equipment.
Officers were able to find the vehicle identified as the one Wanlass had been in when he left the residence.
He was arrested, and the vehicle was searched to which officers found a rifle, cannabis, and liquid codeine in the car. It was noted that inside the vehicle were several individuals including three children.
Also discovered was over a dozen Xanax pills.
Wanlass refused to speak to officers unless an attorney was present.
Wanlass’ charges include:
- Class X Felony of Armed Violence
- Class 3 Felony of Manufacture/Delivery of Cannabis between 30-500 grams
- Class 3 Felony of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- 2 counts of Class 4 Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Class A Misdemeanor of Domestic Battery
- Class A Misdemeanor of Possession of Cannabis between 30-100 grams
He is due back in court Friday for a bail hearing.
