Belleville lawyer chases down, captures man suspected of snatching secretary's wallet

Steve Wigginton is also a finalist to be a U.S. attorney

BY BETH HUNDSDORFER - News-Democrat

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BELLEVILLE -- Steve Wigginton doesn't know whether it is a requirement for a U.S. Attorney to chase down, tackle and detain criminals, but if there is, he can check that off his list.

Wigginton, a finalist for the job of U.S. attorney of the Southern District of Illinois, caught and held a man suspected of walking into his law office and snatching a secretary's wallet Wednesday afternoon.

"I guess I would have that requirement covered," Wigginton said when reached by phone on Thursday.

Freddie L. Davis, 46, of 212 Kinder in Cahokia, now faces two counts of burglary and remains in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail, said police Capt. Don Sax.

About 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Wigginton walked out his office and heard his secretary shout, "Stop him! Stop him! He has her wallet!" Wigginton said. He and lawyer J. Brian Manion ran out of the of Weilmuenster & Wigginton law firm at 3201 W. Main St. after the suspect.

Wigginton ran down North 32nd Street, tracking the suspect by following the sounds of barking dogs in nearby backyards, he said.

Manion came into sight and motioned to Wigginton the suspect was running toward Wigginton. Wigginton spotted the man, pulled out his Madison County assistant state's attorney's badge and told him to stop.

Wigginton then tackled the suspect, pulled his hands behind him and sat on the suspect's back until the police arrived, he said.

The secretary's wallet was later recovered near Wigginton's office.

Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin sent Wigginton's and current U.S. Attorney Courtney Cox's names for consideration to fill the job as U.S. attorney for the Southern District, the top federal law enforcement position for the southernmost 37 counties in Illinois.

President Obama will decide which candidate to put before the Senate Judiciary Committee, then the full Senate for a vote.

Wigginton said he is ready to prosecute criminals, but hopes that he will leave arresting criminals to the police..

"That is the longest and fastest I have run in a long time," Wigginton said.

Contact reporter Beth Hundsdorfer at bhundsdorfer@bnd.com or 239-2570.

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