Man who beat trooper on I-55 sentenced to 44 years in prison

MCLEAN COUNTY (25News Now) - A man convicted of disarming and beating an Illinois State Police trooper has learned how long he will serve time behind bars.

According to McLean County Court records, Randy Turner, 40, was sentenced Thursday to 44 years in prison on one count of disarming a peace officer, one count of attempting to disarm a peace officer, and one count of aggravated battery of a peace officer. He was also sentenced on six other counts to seven years each. Since those counts are concurrent, they will be served alongside the 44-year sentence, with no additional time in prison. A motion for a new trial was denied.

According to a probable cause statement, on May 27, 2022, the trooper initiated a traffic stop at mile marker 186 on northbound Interstate 55 near the exit for Chenoa. The driver, identified as Turner, allegedly pulled over after being clocked at 109-mph in a 70-mph zone.

The statement says after a peaceful interaction during the stop, Turner attacked the trooper without warning and tried to get control of their firearm. Charging documents say the trooper was pinned and hit in the head multiple times during the incident. It adds Turner tried to gain control of the trooper’s gun, but got his pepper spray instead, spraying the trooper with it. A tow truck driver pulled over to try and resolve the situation. After running into traffic, Turner then tried to drive away in the stopped truck. He was later tased by the trooper and arrested.

The trooper was released from the hospital the same day, and his condition is unknown.

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