(HOLIDAY HILLS) A rifle police believe was used to shoot two McHenry County sheriff’s deputies was recovered in a northwest suburban channel Friday, while the suspect in the case was ordered held on a $1 million bond.
The incident early Thursday began after Scott Peters’ wife called a friend in Michigan. That friend called the McHenry County sheriff’s office, asking that someone check on the well-being of the wife.
According to Sheriff Keith Nygren, Peters, 52, who has military experience, fired a rifle through the door of the home, then opened the door and continued firing, hitting 39-year-old Deputy Khalia Satkiewicz in the leg and 46-year-old Deputy Dwight Maness in the leg and abdomen.
The deputies were shot at 1:30 a.m. Thursday in the 1300 block of West Northeast Shore Drive in unincorporated Holiday Hills, sheriff’s Lt. James Wagner said. That touched off the manhunt for the retired Green Beret.
On Friday, authorities recovered a ballistic vest, helmet and rifle from the Holiday Trail channel near Holiday Drive. The channel is a stagnant body of water that connects to the Fox River.
Investigators also recovered evidence that potentially links the rifle back to the residence, the sheriff’s office said.
Peters was arrested about 5:15 p.m. Thursday a few miles away from his home, walking along a road near Crystal Lake, Nygren said at a press conference Thursday night.
He was charged with two counts each of attempted murder and aggravated battery to a police officer with a firearm, authorities said. Judge Robert Wilbrandt set his bond at $1 million Friday morning.
Nygren said after Peters came out of a wooded area in a T-shirt and shorts, two people called police to report seeing him.
“Three deputies approached him and he was taken into custody without incident,” Nygren said.
Nygren noted Peters had somehow eluded 250 officers — and three aircraft — that had been searching the area. He was found a few miles away, on the other side of the Fox River. Nygren did not know how he crossed the river.
“This day ends on a positive note,” he said Thursday, thanking the media for getting the description of the suspect out to residents. “The community is safe again.”
Maness — a seven-year veteran of the McHenry County Sheriff’s office — was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, police said. He remains in ICU, but his condition had stabilized.
Satkiewicz, a 12-year veteran, was taken to Centegra Hospital – McHenry, where she was listed in good condition, authorities said.
Investigators also recovered other firearms from the residence that were not believed to be used during the incident, the sheriff’s office said Friday.
Police said Peters does not currently posses a valid FOID or concealed carry license, and additional criminal charges could be filed.
