PEKIN (25News Now) – A Pekin man is facing several charges, including disorderly conduct and damage to criminal property, after allegedly roaming downtown naked.
True Barbershop has been on Court Street in downtown Pekin for two years. Wednesday evening, the salon was defaced in a very unusual, personal way.
The owner, Jeremy Clem, said his employees recall the incident happening around 6:30 p.m.
The barber said that in the salon, they could see a grown man defecating on the sidewalk near the business. Clem said one of his workers stepped out to tell him to stop, but that’s when the man ran towards the shop and began banging on the door.
According to Clem, the man left all of his clothes, fecal matter, and a 125-year-old broken front door, which Clem said cost thousands of dollars.
The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Brent Wells.
“We bring 600 people a week to downtown Pekin, through [the barbershop], in and out every single day. Now they’re coming to a broken door and s*** on the windows, so we’re frustrated,” said Clem.
According to the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department, deputies arrested Wells before being transported to a local hospital for treatment via ambulance.
Wells is facing three misdemeanor charges and two felonies, which include aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, as well as threatening an officer. However, deputies released Wells with a notice to appear.
Clem believes the notice to appear won’t stop Wells from returning.
“He’s out. If he comes back [Thursday night] and breaks out my window, I just put more boards up I guess,” said Clem.
Clem said he sees substance use problem on his stretch of Court Street quite often, which makes it hard to run a shop.
Surrounding business owners said it’s better than it used to be. While they feel for Clem, they also said they’re glad the naked man didn’t target any other businesses.
“It’s making me rethink opening a business here to be honest,” said Clem.
Clem said he’s frustrated that nobody from the City of Pekin reached out to offer any kind of support after Wednesday night’s incident. He plans to speak up at the next city council meeting.
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