A scary and strange spectacle drew plenty of onlookers to the Olesen Plaza Apartment complex Saturday afternoon. That's where all eyes were on this man...32 year old Kevin Bailey of Romeoville. "Officers were initially called here at 1:30 for a person with a baseball bat and a fire extinguisher in the lobby," Chief Chet Epperson said. Epperson says Bailey sprayed an officer with the fire extinguisher. Then ran upstairs into an elderly woman's fourth floor apartment, taking her hostage. Police rescued the woman, but Bailey barricaded himself in a room. He peaked out occasionally, throwing a knife and other objects out the window, causing major damage. "Pipes were taken off the walls, there was extensive flooding from the fourth to first floor," Epperson said. A swat team arrived to assist negotiators trying and get Bailey out of the room safely. After three hours of dialogue failed, police resorted to physical measures by using a taser and finally arresting him. There's no word yet on what triggered his outburst. Onlookers checking it all out Saturday were rattled by the commotion.
"I saw officers coming in with guns and stuff, so I got out, it's the best thing I could do," Calvin Williams said. "It's wiered, it's the first time I've seen something like this, it's scary," Jenifer Rayment said. Bailey was taken to Rockford Memorial Hospital for medical treatment after getting hit by the taser. Police Chief Chet Epperson said using the taser was "one of those split second decisions that have to be made" and an opportunity to take advantage of to keep his officers safe. Charges are pending against Bailey but they include aggravated assault to a police officer and felony criminal damage. He's also scheduled to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. And the elderly woman he took hostage, she's OK, just shaken up.