Friday Standoff Leads to Several Charges for Palestine Man

(Undated) — A standoff with police and a suspected homemade bomb led to additional charges for a Palestine man. According to Crawford County Sheriff, Bill Rutan, on Friday, deputies were conducting a Sex Offender Compliance check at a residence in Palestine when fifty-five-year-old Leslie Friedrick barricaded himself in his upstairs bedroom. Reports indicate that after several minutes, with the use of special equipment, deputies gained access to the bedroom and arrested Friedrick. After he was taken into custody, deputies requested and executed a search warrant, locating a suspected homemade bomb and equipment used in making the bomb, suspected drugs, and drug paraphernalia. The Sheriff requested the Illinois Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad to assist on scene. The Bomb Squad advised that the device was “not a public threat.” Friedrick was charged with Aggravated Battery of a Peace Officer, five counts of Aggravated Assault of Peace Officer, three counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, three counts of Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Explosives or Explosive or Incendiary Devices, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, and Resisting a Peace Officer.