An Illinois woman on pretrial release allegedly tried to take a vehicle while a woman and her young child were inside, according to authorities.
Samara Russell, 37, is a resident of Rock Falls, court records show.
Whiteside County deputies were dispatched after receiving multiple reports of someone screaming for help, police said.
A neighbor heard the screams and came outside before deputies arrived at the scene. That neighbor pulled Russell from the vehicle, according to Sheriff John Booker.
The situation could have ended much worse without that neighbor stepping in, Booker said.
The confrontation was still not over when law enforcement reached the location, according to police.
Russell allegedly fought with responding deputies and attempted to disarm one of them, police said. She was then taken into custody, authorities said.
Authorities subsequently discovered the defendant was already on pretrial release in a separate case, court documents state.
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That previous case involved similar incidents and required her to wear an electronic home GPS monitor, according to authorities.
Russell had allegedly cut off the electronic monitor the night before the attempted carjacking, police said. The sheriff’s department was not notified that the device had been removed until the following day, Booker said.
A woman and her child allegedly encountered the suspect before law enforcement even knew the monitor was gone, officials said.
Russell is now facing multiple felony counts in connection with the incident, according to court documents.
The charges include vehicular invasion, aggravated battery of a peace officer, unlawful restraint and disarming a peace officer, all felonies, authorities said.
The defendant was also charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer, police said.
A judge ordered Russell to remain detained behind bars, according to court records.
The court is also considering whether the defendant is competent to stand trial, records show.
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