Meth User With $10,296 Cash, Lots Of Disguises, Hides In Cornfield Before Being Captured: Sheriff

GARDNER, IL — The Grundy County Sheriff's Office issued a press release Tuesday to announce the recent arrest of 32-year-old Cameron Cudney, a fugitive wanted for burglaries, criminal damage to property and aggravated fleeing from police in Ogle, Vermillion and Lawrence counties.

According to Grundy County authorities, at approximately 8:55 p.m. Oct. 10, a deputy made a traffic stop on a black Mercedes sedan after the vehicle failed to yield while turning onto Route 47 from the I-55 southbound exit ramp, nearly causing a crash with the patrol vehicle.

The driver initially identified himself as George R. Snow, but deputies quickly discovered the identity provided was false. During the stop, deputies observed disguises inside the vehicle and suspected drug paraphernalia.

The sheriff's office said Cameron refused to comply with commands, rolled up his window and drove southbound on Route 47—striking spike strips laid behind his vehicle during the stop. The vehicle’s right rear tire deflated, but Cameron continued at speeds exceeding 100 mph northbound, police said. Deputies lost sight of the vehicle near Stonewall Road due to traffic conditions, police revealed.

After local police coordinated with the Danville Police Department, police say Cudney was positively identified, and investigators learned that he may be armed and known to wear a ghillie suit — a type of camouflage to blend in with the environment — to evade capture. A cellphone ping revealed the vehicle's location in a cornfield near Goodfarm Road and Old Mazon Road.

Deputies deployed a drone and found the vehicle approximately 80 yards into the standing corn, according to the authorities. The vehicle was found running and unoccupied, and police say a subsequent search turned up 3 grams of methamphetamine and a meth pipe in the driver’s side door. The vehicle was impounded, and a field search was conducted, Grundy County officials said.

A short time later, deputies using thermal imaging spotted Cudney walking through an adjacent field. Despite announcing their presence and warning him to stop, police say Cudney ran into a ditch.

According to police, Cudney was quickly apprehended and found to be in possession of $10,296 in cash, believed to be related to ongoing burglary investigations.

No weapons were found on his person at the time of arrest, Grundy County officials said.