Highland man charged in shooting death of Pontoon Beach police officer
A 31-year-old man from Highland was charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday in connection with the fatal shooting of Pontoon Beach Police Officer Tyler Timmins at a gas station Tuesday morning.
Scott Hyden was arrested at the gas station following the shooting and is being held in the Madison County Jail without bond, according to Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine.
Hyden is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, one count of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, one count of possessing a stolen firearm and one felony motor vehicle charge.
“Officer Tyler Timmins dedicated his life to serving and protecting the citizens of Madison County,” Haine said. “We all thank him – and thank his family — for his incredible and heroic life. We are all grateful for the service of all the first-responders who put their lives on the line for our safety. Please join me in keeping the family, friends, and colleagues of Officer Timmins in your prayers.”
“Those who attack police officers — public servants who have dedicated their lives to protecting us all from harm — will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And here, we will be seeking the maximum possible sentence available under Illinois law, natural life, for the defendant.”
Timmins, 36, was shot at about 8 a.m. Tuesday. He had stopped a 2013 red Toyota Tacoma pick up truck with Missouri plates, which he knew had been stolen. When he approached the truck at the Speedway gas station at the intersection of Illinois 111 and Interstate 270, the suspect began firing at Timmins, hitting him in the face and neck, according to charging documents.
A purple and silver 9mm handgun recovered by police also had been stolen, the charges state.
Timmins died at St. Louis University Hospital. His body moved from the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office to a funeral home in Wood River on Wednesday afternoon.
Timmins had been a police officer in Madison County for 14 years and had joined the Pontoon Beach Police Department in April 2020. He previously served as an officer in Roxana, Hartford and was chief of police in Worden.
“Yesterday was a tragic day. And though we will continue to honor and mourn Officer Timmins, the work of justice now begins,” Haine said. “Our police officers are heroes. Violent attacks on police are absolutely unacceptable in our community.”
Hyden had a 2014 conviction for possession of a firearm by the user of a controlled substance, which is a felony in Illinois.
The charges were announced during a news conference at the Pontoon Beach Police Department. Haine was surrounded by about 60 law-enforcement officers from around the metro-east.
This story was originally published October 27, 2021 at 3:31 PM.
