March 10, 2025
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Oglesby shooting suspect now charged with attempted murder

Bergsma faces up to 50 years if convicted of shooting at Oglesby officers

By Tom Collins
Peter Bergsma

Peter D. Bergsma (Provided)

A Michigan man who police said shot at two Oglesby officers now is charged with trying to kill them.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday and returned two counts of attempted murder against 35-year-old Peter D. Bergsma, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The charges are Class X felonies carrying 6-30 years in prison with no possibility of probation. However, the charge carries a 20-year enhancement if the judge or jury finds Bergsma personally squeezed the trigger, in which case the sentencing range jumps from 26-50 years.

Bergsma already was charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle for allegedly shooting at Oglesby police Dec. 29 and attempting to flee in an Oglesby squad car.

He remains held at the La Salle County Jail on $1 million bond.

Bergsma was initially scheduled to appear Friday for a final pre-trial conference and again Monday for trial, but both those dates could be off. Aside from the new charges, Bergsma’s lawyer filed a motion for a fitness evaluation, which halts all proceedings until Bergsma sits for a court-appointed psychiatrist.

Also indicted Tuesday were: Michael Diaz, 19, of Marseilles (aggravated battery; resisting a peace officer); Trevoy Banks, 47, of Bolingbrook (driving while revoked; aggravated DUI); Miguel Morales, 38, of Arrowsmith (driving while revoked); Steven Behrens, 34, of Plano (driving while revoked); Annette Essman, 29, of Streator (unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver); Darius Earle, 22, of La Salle (two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); William Pelka Jr., 24, of Streator (two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Dajuan Williams, 28, of Streator (two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Stephanie Cockream, 39, of Shorewood (two counts of aggravated DUI); Jose Hernandez, 29, of La Salle (home invasion; aggravated battery); Richard Lombardi, 25, of Ottawa (aggravated domestic battery); Anthony Quinones, 22, of Marseilles (two counts of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender); William Hardee, 62, of Ottawa (driving while revoked); Arlie Rice, 50, of Ottawa (two counts of domestic battery); Clinton Munson, 39, of Naplate (two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance).