By Rumasa Noor
Staff Writer
On March 22, the village of Union Grove was shaken up after a fugitive kidnapped a female and later exchanged gunfire with the deputy in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. After a 27-hour manhunt, the police was able to locate him but he decided to take his own life.
While the authorities were trying to find Stantavious Sillas, 20, the community of Union Grove came in support of the law enforcement.
From sending tips to cooperating with the police during the manhunt, Union Grove businesses and residents provided a big help to the law enforcement.
And to recognize their efforts, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling presented the individuals with the awards during Union Grove Village Board meeting on Monday, June 8 at 6 p.m.
“Recently we have responded to probably the worst call for service that law enforcement could ever respond to, that is an officer involved shooting,” Schmaling said. “The positive thing that has come out of this is the community partnerships that we have created.”
Sillas reportedly threatened to shoot himself with a handgun he had in his possession when he saw the police arriving, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Citizen tips led to locating him after the incidents March 23. Officers attempted crisis intervention measures to prevent Sillas from harming himself, but their efforts failed.
Sillas shot himself once in the head, according to Sgt. Eric Relich of the Mount Pleasant Police Department.
Sillas was then rushed to Wheaton Franciscan Hospital and later transported to Froedtert Memorial Hospital in Wauwatosa.
Sillas died around 6 p.m. March 23 at Froedtert from his gunshot wound, said Relich.
Sillas was being sought by police after kidnapping a woman acquaintance from the parking lot of Lakeview NeuroRehabilitation Center near Waterford, then later firing his gun at sheriff’s deputies searching for him in the Piggly Wiggly shopping center in Union Grove.
Sheriff was also grateful to the Village President Mike Aimone, who came out at 11 p.m. at night and allowed the deputies to use the Municipal building.
“McDonalds stepped up and fed my staff, Charcoal Grill stepped up and helped feed my staff,” Schmaling said. “It’s amazing, the outpour of support we had.”
Those who were recognized included Mike Aimone, president of the Village of Union Grove, Doug and Carolyn Preston of Piggly Wiggly, Alison Nitschke, manager of McDonald’s, Bob Ketterhagen of Bob’s Mobil, Heather Anasibi of Crime stoppers, Randy Ortloff, General Manager of Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie, and Jackie Bratz, Interim Director of Racine County Communications Center.
“All those individuals that I recognized were individuals that helped out and often these are the individuals that would otherwise go unnoticed,” Schmaling said.
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