The Illinois Police UFO Chase

On January 5, 2000, police officers across multiple Illinois towns tracked a massive triangular UFO as it moved through the pre-dawn sky. The well-documented case features some of the best police witness testimony in UFO history.

The Sighting

January 5, 2000:

• Around 4:00 AM
• Southwestern Illinois
• Multiple towns
• Police tracking
• Extended observation

The Object

Officers described:

• Massive triangle
• Football field sized
• Multiple lights
• Silent
• Low altitude

The Police Witnesses

Officers from:

• Highland
• Lebanon
• Millstadt
• Dupo
• Shiloh
• Multiple jurisdictions

Officer Barton

Highland officer:

• First law enforcement witness
• Radio communication
• Alerted other departments
• Extended observation
• Key witness

Officer Martin

Lebanon officer:

• Observed object
• Described size
• Photographed lights
• Professional demeanor
• Credible testimony

The Pursuit

As object moved:

• Departments communicated
• Tracked movement
• Officers positioned
• Coordinated observation
• Professional response

The Recordings

Radio traffic:

• Captured on tape
• Officers’ reactions
• Real-time observations
• Important evidence
• Documentary material

Peter Davenport

NUFORC director:

• Investigated case
• Interviewed officers
• Documented evidence
• Published report
• Key researcher

Scott Air Force Base

Military base nearby:

• Denied involvement
• No aircraft admitted
• Proximity noted
• Questions raised
• No explanation

The Documentary

“UFOs Over Illinois”:

• Featured the case
• Officers interviewed
• Reconstruction
• Public awareness
• Well documented

Significance

One of the best-documented police UFO cases with multiple officers across jurisdictions and radio recordings.

Legacy

The Illinois triangle case became a benchmark for police UFO sightings, demonstrating that law enforcement witnesses credible encounters.