Sangamon County (IL) State’s Attorney John Milhiser says criminal charges could soon be filed against a man who admitted to police he took Athens Police Chief Tim Becker’s department vehicle from his home while Becker was on vacation and used it to conduct a fake traffic stop in Springfield Nov. 11.
Benjamin Friday, 25, identified in a police report as the fiance of Becker’s daughter, has not been arrested or charged in connection with the incident but is considered a suspect.
Milhiser said the case is under investigation and he still is reviewing reports from multiple agencies.
The police reports show Friday was living at Becker’s home in Sangamon County with the chief’s daughter. The two have a 2-month-old son together.
Friday, a veteran, was out celebrating the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps and a recent job offer but returned to the chief’s home around 11 p.m.
Sometime in the next few hours, Friday allegedly found the keys to the Becker’s department-issued Chevrolet Tahoe, which was parked in the garage, drove to Springfield and pulled someone over.
