Man in Custody After Attempted Effingham Home Entry While Armed

A man is in custody after attempting to enter a home in Effingham early today.

Effingham city police officers were called to a residence in the 900 block of Oakcrest Drive at approximately 2:36 A.M. after receiving the report. The man, later identified as Arend R. Poe, 34, Stewardson, a relative of the homeowner, was reportedly armed with a firearm.

(AREND POE)

Arriving Officers located Poe outside the residence wearing a type of body armor and armed with multiple handguns. Officers immediately began deescalating the situation and successfully took Poe into custody without incident. Numerous firearms, including one AR-15, as well as approximately 1000 rounds of ammunition have been seized as a result of the incident.

Poe was booked into Effingham County Jail and charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Aggravated Assault, Possession of Methamphetamine and Disorderly Conduct. He remains incarcerated and will have his first court appearance to set bond on Friday. Effingham Police were assisted by Effingham County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police. The investigation is on-going by Effingham Police Detectives, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

City Police Chief Jason McFarland praised the Officers as well as the caller, stating, “Arriving Officers were able to deescalate the situation extremely well, and in a very short time, with no injuries to the suspect, bystanders or Officers. We train for these types of situations, and because of that, Officers were well prepared. In addition, the caller stayed on the line with Dispatch and gave very detailed information that was passed along to responding Officers. Overall, this was a superb response to what could have been a very dangerous situation. From what our investigation has uncovered thus far, this was an isolated incident and there is no prolonged threat for our community.”