Four People Arrested in Garden Prairie Home Invasion, Armed Robbery

Four people were arrested for home invasion and attempted armed robbery after they tried to steal money from an acquaintance living in Garden Prairie.

McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren issued a release stating the four offenders, from Rockford and Belvidere, drove to a home in the 2500 block of Dunham Road in Garden Prairie on Friday night, March 8.

Sheriff's police were called to the scene at about 8:10 p.m. to a report of a robbery in progress. The callers also said gunfire had been exchanged between the intruders and the residents of the house.

Four people were arrested and each were charged with home invasion, a Class X felony, and attempted armed robbery, a Class 1 felony.

Those arrested include:

• Brittany M. Rice, 24, 980 N. Court St., Rockford.
• Justin B. Mitchell, 28, 980 N. Court St., Rockford.
• Joshua C. Johnson, 23, 3940 Eagle, Rockford.
• Nimrod D. Hilliard, 27, 1705 14th Ave., Belvidere.

The person the four offenders allegedly intended to take cash from was an acquaintance of Brittany Rice, Nygren said in the release.

Once at the house, Rice met with the resident inside of his home. Soon after, Joshua C. Johnson and Nimrod D. Hilliard entered into the home with a gun, and a confrontation occurred.

The resident, also armed with a gun, chased Rice, Johnson and Hilliard out of his home, and gunfire was exchanged.

Johnson and Hilliard entered into a car driven by Justin Mitchell. The resident and another person who lived at the house surrounded the vehicle and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

During this time, Johnson exited the vehicle and ran away from the scene.

Upon arrival, members of the Sheriff’s Office placed Rice, Johnson, and Hilliard into custody and secured all of the firearms utilized during this incident. The gun used by the intruders was later determined to have been stolen from Bellwood, Illinois.

Johnson was located walking on the roadway a short time later and was taken into custody by the McHenry County Conservation District Police. None of the subjects involved in this incident were injured.

Bond for each was set at $100,000, and they are scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. March 20.

The investigation into this matter is ongoing, and additional criminal charges may be forthcoming.