An armed robbery at an Effingham hotel Tuesday night ended with a suspect in custody thanks to a K9 track, drone surveillance, and the cooperation of several departments.
Effingham Police responded to the Days Inn at 1602 Damron Court just after 10:30 p.m. after an employee reported that a man armed with a knife had demanded the hotel’s cash drawer. The suspect grabbed the drawer, which had an undetermined amount of cash, and fled before officers arrived. No one was injured.
Officers reviewed hotel surveillance footage to determine which direction the suspect had gone, then deployed a police K9 to track him. The dog recovered the cash drawer and what appeared to be clothing discarded by the suspect along the way. A drone operated by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office then located the suspect hiding in a makeshift encampment in a wooded area behind Boos Outlet Showroom on Avenue of Mid America. Officers and Illinois State Police Troop 9 troopers moved in and made the arrest without incident.
The suspect was identified as Nicholas A. Courtright, 20, of Effingham. He was taken to the Effingham County Jail and booked on Class X felony armed robbery and criminal trespass charges. An initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2nd, to determine whether Courtright will be held prior to trial. Effingham Police say they are in support of detention, noting that armed robbery qualifies as a detainable offense even under the SAFE-T Act.
Effingham Police Chief Kurt Davis praised the teamwork involved in the arrest, saying the combination of video surveillance, K9, and drone technology allowed officers to track and locate the suspect quickly while keeping both the public and responding officers safe. Anyone with information related to this or any other suspicious activity is encouraged to contact the Effingham Police Department at 217-347-0774, or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 217-347-6583. Anonymous tips may be eligible for up to a $1,000 cash reward.
All individuals listed as arrested or cited are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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