Wounded cop stable

Shooter held on three charges, could face 60 years.

Police officer Steve Cox, shot Tuesday, is resting in stable condition at Ball Memorial Hospital, Police Chief Joe Winkle announced Wednesday.

His accused shooter - Jillian King, 29 - is being held on three charges, including attempted murder, a class A felony.

"He (Cox) called up here bored, wondering what's going on. He's in good spirits," Winkle said. "He's very fortunate. We could be planning a police funeral today."

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She could face about 60 years in prison if convicted of all three.

Cox was hit in the upper-right thigh near the groin during a raid at about 9:30 p.m. at 1002 E. 1st St.

The house was connected to Michael Cleaves, who was arrested for drug dealing 90 minutes prior to the raid.

Members of the SWAT Team, including Cox, and the Delaware County Drug Task Force went to the house to search for cocaine and money. After they failed to enter through one door, they searched for another.

King fired a .44 caliber handgun seconds after police abandoned the first door, the affidavit of probable cause reported.

After she fired, officers used a cinder block to shatter a picture window. They found King and her three-year-old son huddled in the bedroom. A gun was lying on the floor.

The police did not fire back, Winkle said, and did not harm King or the child.

"This could have been a lot worse on both parts," he said. "Considering the circumstances, this went about as well as it could."

In the report, King said she heard someone trying to get inside. She peered out the window, and she said she saw two men wearing masks and camouflaged pants.

She also said she fired in the air, not at anyone in specific.

"I'm not sure what she thought," Winkle said.

The police never identified themselves because they didn't have time, Winkle said. Had they gotten inside, they would have yelled "police," he said.

The department has not suffered any injuries since 1990, when Officer Greg Winter was killed.

After the raid, someone attempted an armed robbery at LoBill, 3705 S. Madison St. A hostage was taken, but the suspect was taken down by a K-9 officer as the suspect was leaving.

Just after that, police were called to another armed robbery at Burger King, 418 S. Tillotson Ave. The solitary male pushed the employees into the back room while he took money from the cash register. Chief Deputy Terry Winters said the robber was gone when police arrived.

Winkle said at the conference a suspect had been arrested in one of the robberies. The other was still under investigation.


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