Man Convicted of Attempting to Kill Police Officer During Drug Deal

CARPENTERSVILLE, IL - A 47-year-old man was convicted last week for attempting to kill an undercover police officer following a drug deal in 2012.

A Kane County jury on Friday found Leamon R. Cavitt Jr., of East St. Louis, guilty of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer; attempted first-degree murder; unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; unlawful possession of a controlled substance; aggravated battery to a peace officer; three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated fleeing and eluding.

The charges stem from a drug deal that took place on Jan. 17, 2012, according to a Kane County State's Attorney's Office press release. Prosecutors presented evidence that on the afternoon of Jan. 17, 2012, Cavitt arrived at a restaurant parking lot in the 1600 block of Ravine Lane in Carpentersville, to follow through on an arrangement to purchase one kilogram of cocaine. The deal had been arranged by the co-defendant, who was not named, prosecutors said.

Cavitt gave $30,000 to the co-defendant who handed the cash over to two undercover police officers. Cavitt remained in his parked car, and once the co-defendant took possession of the kilogram of cocaine on Cavitt’s behalf, police signaled for the arrest to proceed. When an unmarked police vehicle pulled behind Cavitt’s car, Cavitt put his car in reverse and rammed into the police vehicle at high speed as an officer was exiting, striking and injuring the officer. Cavitt then went forward at high speed, "forcing an officer to jump out of the way to avoid being run over and killed," according to the news release.

Cavitt left the scene at a high speed, driving over a curb and bushes and down an embankment. Police pursued Cavitt at high speeds through multiple jurisdictions until Cavitt surrendered in Itasca. Multiple officers, fearing for their safety and the safety of their fellow officers, fired their weapons at Cavitt during the incident, striking him and injuring him, according to the news release.

Cavitt is next expected in court on April 28 at 1:30 p.m. for a sentencing hearing. He faces between 20 and 80 years in prison.

Cavitt has remained in custody on a $2 million bail since his arrest. His bond was revoked upon conviction.

“Violence related to the illicit narcotics trade isn’t confined to large, urban areas. Even in Kane County police officers face grave risks when they try to interrupt the trade,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. “Fortunately, the officers involved were not seriously hurt.”