Belleville man arrested in MetroLink robbery, breaks officer’s hand, police say
A Belleville man has been accused of breaking a police officer’s hand during an arrest in Swansea last month.
Cory A. Houghlan, 28, was charged with one count of resisting a peace officer resulting in an injury on Monday, online court records show.
On Feb. 29, Swansea police responded to a report of a robbery at the Belleville Memorial MetroLink stop, where a witness reporting seeing the suspect board the east-bound train, a news release from Swansea Police Chief Steve Johnson stated Tuesday.
According to Johnson, the suspect was reported to be a white male wearing a hooded sweatshirt and no shoes.
A Swansea police officer located Houghlan on the Swansea MetroLink platform, Johnson said.
“The suspect immediately resisted arrest and the officer had to subdue him and physically take him into custody,” Johnson said.
The police officer’s hand was fractured during the arrest. According to Johnson, the officer was recovering and has already returned to work without any serious injuries.
“The officer showed immense restraint during a violent incident,” Johnson said.
Houghlan also faces a March 3 charge of retail theft in Swansea and a March 2 charge of robbery of a victim older than 60 years old in Belleville.
Houghlan remained in St. Clair County Jail on Tuesday with a bail of $155,000.
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