Kewanee Police officer recovers from knife wounds as Sunday arrest goes awry

A Kewanee Police officer suffered several knife-cut wounds after he and another officer tried to disarm an armed man Sunday outside JoJos gas station in Kewanee.

Austin Norberg, 33, of Annawan, Norberg appeared in Henry County Court on Monday on charges of Armed Violence with a Category II Weapon, Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.

Kewanee Police said they received a call from JoJo’s Gas Station, 501 N. Main St., just after 9 a.m. saying that a man had attempted to pay for gas using a stolen check.

An officer on the call knew Norberg, even though he reportedly gave police a false name, and the dispatcher informed the officers that Norberg had a valid Henry County warrant for failure to appear on charges relating to Possession of Methamphetamine and Obstructing Justice.

Police said that instead of complying with the arrest, Norberg reached for a 5 1/2-inch knife hidden in his waistband. In body camera video that appears on the KPD Facebook, officers can be seen holding Norberg's arms and yelling for him to comply. Instead, the video shows, Norberg, in a seated position, tries to thrust the knife toward his own throat and threatens to kill himself.

Police eventually used a stun gun on Norberg and seized the knife, but not before an officer suffered several lacerations to his hand. The officer was treated at OSF St Luke Medical Center where he received 8 stitches for his injuries. Norberg was also transported to OSF St. Luke Medical Center where he was treated and released to the custody of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

A preliminary hearing for Norberg is set for 3 p.m. July 5.

Armed Violence is a Class X felony that carries a potential minimum sentence of 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer is a Class 2 Felony that carries a potential sentence of 3 to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon is a Class 2 Felony that carries a potential sentence of 3 to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

This article originally appeared on Star Courier: KPD officer recovers from knife wounds after Sunday arrest goes awry