ORANGEVILLE — A domestic dispute involving threats with a firearm called deputies out for about eight hours on Sunday, Aug. 19 in Orangeville and evacuated people from their homes nearby. 

As a result, Jay R. Vandervalk, 48, Orangeville, was taken into custody for domestic battery, aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated assault, according to a press release from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office. 

According to the release, a 911 call came in at 7:54 a.m. from a female located at 1190 Rock Grove Road. A deputy met with the female inside the home and the female caller advised she had been assaulted by her ex-husband and that he threatened to shoot her and her dog with a handgun.  The deputy verbally summoned Vandervalk but got no response, according to the release. The victim was then taken to safety while the exterior perimeter of the home was secured. The victim advised that the suspect also lived in the home and had numerous firearms inside. 

Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team and Tactical Emergency Medical Support was requested at that time. 

The release said Vandervalk’s refusal to communicate and the knowledge of numerous firearms available to him led to the evacuation of vulnerable residences for public safety and the secure perimeter was maintained.

Contact was established with Vandervalk, but he refused to come out of the home. The suspect’s son arrived around 3:30 p.m. and assisted with the surrender of the suspect around 3:52 p.m. 

Other agencies that assisted were: Illinois State Police District 16, Freeport Police Department, Freeport Emergency Response Team, Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, Orangeville Police Department, ILEAS support from Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Byron Police Department, Stockton Police Department, Warren Police Department, Winnebago Police Department, Pecatonica Police Department, Mercy Health Emergency Services, Leamon’s Ambulance, Star Ambulance, Commonwealth Edison and the Village of Winslow.