Champaign Kraft Facility Threatened: Man Arrested After Altercation with Deputy

Share and Follow

A heated argument over a food delivery at the Kraft facility in Champaign resulted in a man’s arrest for issuing threats and assaulting a deputy, according to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.

The confrontation unfolded on Monday evening around 7:30 p.m. Sheriff Dustin Heuerman detailed in a news release that two delivery individuals were denied entry into the facility by company security personnel.

“One of the individuals, identified as 31-year-old Devante Gathings from Champaign, allegedly threatened to ‘shoot up’ the Kraft facility,” stated Heuerman.

Following the reported threat, law enforcement was notified, prompting sheriff’s deputies to respond and engage with Gathings and his companion. Heuerman noted that when deputies attempted to lawfully detain Gathings, he resisted arrest.

“Gathings wrapped his arm around one deputy’s neck, an act perceived by the deputy as an attempt to choke him to the point of unconsciousness,” Heuerman said. “Deputies and assisting officers from the Champaign Police Department were able to get Gathings into custody without further incident and without escalating use of force. The deputy was not seriously injured by the altercation.”

After the investigation was complete, Gathings was arrested on preliminary charges of aggravated assault, intimidation, aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated resisting arrest and aggravated DUI. Heuerman added that Gathings was also booked on an Iroquois County warrant, which the State’s Attorney’s Office said was in a DUI case.

Court records do not indicate he has been formally charged in Champaign County yet.

The other person with Gathings was also arrested, Heuerman said, but by the Champaign Police Department for an unrelated case. When reached for more information, CPD officials said the other person was wanted for domestic battery in connection with an altercation in Champaign on Oct. 19. They identified him as Joeal Hamlin, 32 of Chicago.