MCHENRY COUNTY (WIFR) -- Sheriff Keith Nygren announced today four people from the Rockford area were arrested for Home Invasion and Attempted Armed Robbery. On March 8, 2013 just after 8:00 p.m. members of the Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 25000 block of Dunham Road, Garden Prairie, Illinois for a reported robbery in progress call. Callers also reported that gunfire had been exchanged between the offenders and the residents of the property.

Investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff's Office indicated that Brittany Rice, Justin Mitchell, Joshua Johnson, and Nimrod Hilliard, acting together, traveled to the Dunham Road address intending to steal cash from a resident of the property. That individual was an acquaintance of Rice’s. Once at the residence, Ricemet with the resident inside his home and later Johnson and Hilliard entered into the residence with a firearm, at which time a confrontation occurred between Johnson, Hilliard, and the resident. The resident, armed with a firearm, chased the subjects out of his home and gunfire between the parties was exchanged. Johnson and Hilliard entered into a vehicle driven by Mitchell. The resident and another subject, who resided at the property surrounded the vehicle and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Johnson exited the vehicle and ran away from the scene.

Upon arrival, members of the Sheriff’s Office placed Rice, Mitchell, and Hilliard into custody and secured all of the firearms utilized during this incident. The firearm used by the offenders was determined to have been stolen from Bellwood, Illinois. Johnson was located walking on the roadway a short time later and was taken into custody by the McHenry County Conservation District Police. None of the subjects involved in this incident were injured. The investigation into this matter is ongoing, and additional criminal charges may be forthcoming.

ARRESTED:

Brittany Rice, 24, Rockford
Justin Mitchell, 28, Rockford
Joshua Johnson, 23, Rockford
Nimrod Hilliard, 27, Belvidere

All were charged with Home Invasion (class X felony) and Attempted Armed Robbery (class 1 felony)
Their next court date is March 20, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. Bond has been set at $100,000.00