Benton, IL man arrested after numerous reports of man in middle of road

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – A man faces drug and other charges after sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a man walking in the middle of a road in Franklin County.

Monday, February 19, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received numerous 911 calls reporting a man walking in the middle of IL State Highway 24 near Steel City Road.

The callers said the person refused to move out of the road.

Deputies found the man. As a deputy approached him, the man refused to follow verbal commands to leave the road and continued to walk toward the deputy.

The man shoved the deputy in the chest and continued to push him away.

The deputy got the man to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.

Deputies say he continued to resist and kick them.

Eric S. Sullivan, 53, of Benton faces charges of aggravated battery to a peace officer, resisting/obstructing a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance.

Deputies searched Sullivan and found a plastic baggy that contained a substance the field tested positive for cocaine.

The Benton Police Department and Illinois State Police assisted Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies.