Just after midnight on Saturday, March 23rd, Galesburg Police observed a bicyclist in the area of Summit and Farnham Streets without the required bike lamp, riding down the middle of the roadway. Police stopped and made contact with the bicyclist: 25-year old Ramsey Essex Jr of Galesburg. It was discovered that Essex had a Knox County Warrant for Domestic Battery, and a Mercer County Warrant for being a Felon in Possession of a Weapon. When officers attempted to detain him, Essex took off running. He made it about 200 feet before officers tackled him to the ground. A struggle ensued where Essex, at one point, struck an officer in the chest with an elbow. Additional officers arrived on the scene and Essex was eventually detained. A search of his vest and backpack turned up a loaded .22 caliber revolver, 1.2 grams of methamphetamine, over 3 grams of suspected heroin, and two spoons with drug residue. Essex was charged with: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Aggravated Assault to a Peace Officer, Resisting, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Illegal Possession of Ammunition, Possession of a Firearm with FOID Revoked, Meth Possession, Possession of a Controlled Substance, a trio of warrants, and numerous bicycle-related traffic violations.
