Lincoln man pleads guilty to attempting to take a police officer’s firearm

[April 04, 2023]   On January 18, 2023, Jeffrey A. Plotke (d.o.b.: 06-23-87), of the 700 block of Feldman Drive in Lincoln, Illinois, pled guilty to Attempting to Disarm a Peace Officer, a Class 2 felony. Judge Jonathan Wright accepted the fully negotiated plea and sentenced Plotke to the Illinois Department of Corrections for four years.

On January 5, 2022, in the parking lot of the Lincoln Police Department, Jeffrey Plotke was seen running after and trying to jump on his girlfriend’s car. Approximately 20 minutes later, a 9-1-1 call was made from his girlfriend’s residence, and minutes later, police were dispatched to a Lincoln gas station due to Plotke chasing his girlfriend.

Lincoln Police were able to locate Plotke and his girlfriend near the intersection of Sangamon Street and Keokuk Street. As police were attempting to place Plotke under arrest, Plotke ran from officers. As an officer caught up to Plotke, Plotke took a fighting stance and lunged at the officer. Plotke continued to pull away and swing at the officer. A second and third officer attempted to gain control over Plotke. While struggling with officers, Plotke grabbed the grip of an officer’s service weapon, and attempted to unholster the firearm. Officers were eventually able to place Plotke in handcuffs.

During the struggle, all three officers were injured and taken to the hospital for evaluations. One officer was treated for broken bones in his hand and another officer had a severe shoulder injury.

“This case exemplifies the volatility of domestic violence calls and the dangers of being a peace officer,” said Logan County State’s Attorney Bradley Hauge. “These officers were doing their job, trying to protect someone from a dangerous situation, and in an instant, they were fighting for their lives.

"I am extremely grateful for their service. I am also proud of the response by other first responders. Arriving within minutes of the officers’ calls for help were members of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, the Lincoln Fire Department, and the Logan County Paramedics Association.”

Plotke’s criminal history includes three felony convictions and two misdemeanor convictions. Plotke has convictions for Residential Burglary, Escape, Battery, DUI, and Aggravated DUI.

Based on Illinois law, Plotke was eligible for probation or a sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections for between three and seven years. Plotke must also serve one year of mandatory supervised release and must serve at least 50% of his sentence. As part of the plea, Plotke also agreed to pay $48,579.19 in restitution to help pay for the officers’ medical expenses.

Bradley M. Hauge
Logan County State's Attorney