Homeless Man Arrested After Monday Incident

A homeless man is in custody after a Monday afternoon incident in Effingham.

(LEONARD LIVINGSTON)

City police were attempting a traffic stop at Raney and Rickelman after a report of a retail theft at Walmart when the suspect vehicle, driven by 60-year-old Leonard Livingston, struck and damaged a construction sign owned by Beniach Construction of Tuscola. After striking the sign, the vehicle skidded through the intersection, left the roadway, and struck and damaged a fence owned by Mark Goldstein of Effingham, as well as an AmerenIllinois valve cap. The vehicle then traveled through a field. Livingston then turned the vehicle around and drove back through the damaged area of the fence, struck a ditch, then struck an unoccupied Effingham Police Department squad car, and finally became stuck in the mud.

Livingston was not injured in the incident, which occurred shortly after 5pm. He was arrested on counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer, reckless driving, retail theft and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.