Ottawa - Man Charged with Stealing Police Car, Aggravated
Battery
The Streator man accused of stealing a police car and punching three
police officers outside the 12th Street Tap last week was formally charged
Thursday.
Derek D. Vossberg, 42, 1103 S. Bloomington St., Streator, is charged with
unlawful possession of a stolen police vehicle and three counts of aggravated
battery. He was released after posting $30,000 bond.
He is scheduled for March 9 hearing in Circuit Court Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.'s
courtroom. If convicted of all four charges, Vossberg faces a maximum sentence
of 30 years in prison and a fine or a minimum sentence of probation.
Streator police were investigating an incident of a truck striking a garage in
the 1000 block of Leroy Street at about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 17 when Vossberg
allegedly stole a police car there and drove it about two blocks to the 12th
Street Tap.
Vossberg allegedly did not respond to officers' verbal commands to step out of
the vehicle, prompting the officers to physically remove him from the car.
Vossberg allegedly "punched" and "battered" the officers, causing them to use
controlled strikes to the man's forearms and hands to get him to stop fighting
and get out of the car, said Lt. Bob Turner Sr.
Vossberg was injured and taken to St. Mary's Hospital, where he was treated and
released.
Police also believe Vossberg may be responsible for striking a fire hydrant in
the 600 block of South Vermillion Street, though no charges have been filed.
-- Craig Wieczorkiewicz