LAWSUIT INBOUND: GSL member arrested after being attacked, stabbed in his own driveway in Normal, IL

Chad Berck, a Guns Save Life member living in Normal, IL was attacked in his driveway last year by a neighbor with a significant criminal history.  Berck sustained multiple stab wounds including a lacerated artery, yet police arrested him.  Of course, the fine folks (sarcasm in this instance) over at the Illinois State Police’s Firearms Services Bureau revoked his FOID card and his carry license following his arrest.

Normal PD pursued criminal charges and after about six months of legal wrangling, the McLean Co. State’s Attorney dropped all charges.  The judge handling the case even apologized to Mr. Berck that the legal system utterly failed to protect him.  Yet Berck was still without his FOID and Carry License.

Local alternative news site BLN News covered the story.

Normal, IL (BLNNews) – Imagine the neighborhood bully attacks you in your driveway and does this with a knife?

Then the Normal police arrest you for defending yourself even though other neighbors and your family tell them the victim wasn’t the aggressor?

This happened last May to a Veteran named Chad Berck. Charges against him were dropped in November. Neighbors testified in court for him, the judge even apologized for the legal system that didn’t protect the victim. Meanwhile his FOID card [and Carry License were both] confiscated…

The aggressor was never charged – James Allen Dewitt. He pled guilty to criminal trespass in 2021. In 2016 he was charged with Aggravated Battery/use of a deadly weapon. I appears those charges were dropped in 2017, they involved stabbing an interracial couple around ISU. Maybe the victims refused to testify.

Berck did not have a criminal history before this.

According to Berck harassment by Dewitt started in November 2021. I have video of Dewitt laying on his car horn in front of their house. I have video of his obscene gestures while driving by. I have MANY more details I won’t include. The rest of the Berck family was asleep when Dewitt woke Chad with his motorcycle. Chad took his dog out to pee and that’s when the incident started. Dewitt was not arrested for the injuries he inflicted with his knife.

Berck was handcuffed even though he was recovering from shoulder surgery, the Normal police didn’t care. The Bercks now have an order of protection against Dewitt. January 1st that won’t matter because the Safe-T Act eliminates penalties for violating an order of protection….

Chad Berck’s leg. Do those look like defensive wounds, or the wounds of an aggressor?

I’d sure like the police to explain why the injured party was arrested and the guy who did it wasn’t? Supposedly the attack moved out into the street which is public property. Berck didn’t want to give Dewitt access to his house and his sleeping family, so he purposely moved farther from his front door. The police decided the street is public property and used that to justify his arrest. I wonder if they know charges were dropped?

In early December, after Mr. Berck sought help from GSL and enlisted the aid of various elected officials, the Illinois State Police (finally) decided to restore his FOID card. He’s still waiting for his carry license.

In recent days, he has retained a Chicago law firm to file a 1983 Deprivation of Civil Rights Under Color of Authority action against the officers on scene, their supervisors, the department and the Town of Normal.  We’ll keep you informed.