A Dec. 24 well-being check led to the arrest of a Galesburg man wanted since March on multiple violent charges, including criminal sexual abuse.
According to a Galesburg police report, at about 3:39 p.m. officers were called to the area of 2080 N. Henderson St. for a check on a man walking with a child who was allegedly screaming at the child.
Officers made contact with the suspect, Cody J. Burgus, 33, who told police that he had been shopping with the child and they were walking to the Fairfield Inn. He said the child was upset about not getting a toy and that he had been yelling at the child to calm down. Burgus also told officers that a woman approached them, yelled at him and threatened to call police.
Officers learned that Burgus had an active warrant for his arrest stemming from a March incident. The warrant lists charges of aggravated domestic battery, two counts of criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint, and two counts of domestic battery.
According to police reports, officers were dispatched March 10 to speak with an alleged victim regarding a reported sexual assault that police said occurred March 6 at AmericInn, 2284 Promenade Court. Details of the victim’s allegations against Burgus were not available.
After the woman made her statement, officers spoke with the hotel manager, who confirmed that Burgus checked into the hotel March 6. The manager reported hearing an argument between Burgus and a woman outside the hotel at one point. He said that after he checked on the situation, the two returned to the hotel room.
Police later reviewed security footage from the hotel that showed Burgus grabbing the woman and throwing her against a door, according to the report.
Officers also contacted Burgus by telephone during the investigation. Police said he denied being at the hotel or with the alleged victim and was described in the report as “uncooperative,” refusing to disclose his location at the time.
Burgus made his first court appearance Dec. 26. While the state petitioned to deny his pretrial release, the court denied the petition. His next scheduled court appearance is a preliminary hearing Jan. 27.
Criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
