Macomb man arrested Tuesday for pulling false fire alarm, possession of cocaine

MACOMB, Ill. — A Macomb man was arrested Tuesday for falsely activating the firearm in a building, and he later was found to have a controlled substance in his pocket.

Macomb Police Department officers were dispatched at approximately 11:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, to Eisenhower Tower, 322 W. Piper, for a disorderly conduct complaint in which the suspect, later identified as Rolando Carter, was banging on walls and had activated the fire alarm in the building. Minutes earlier, Carter was involved in a domestic complaint in which his partner was arrested.

As the residents of Eisenhower Towers were vacating the property, some with limited mobility, officers gathered evidence, reviewed video and ultimately arrested Carter for the false fire alarm. Carter allegedly made statements about burning the building down.

Carter also had a significant amount of a controlled substance believed to be cocaine in his pocket. He was brought to the McDonough County Jail for booking and was to be released on his citations. However, Carter would not cooperate with booking procedures and was placed in a holding cell.

Carter was charged with pulling a false fire alarm, a Class 4 felony; criminal damage to government supported property, a Class 4 felony; and possession of a controlled substance, which can be charged from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class 1 felony, depending on the amount of the drug.

The Macomb Police Department thanks the staff at the Housing Authority of McDonough County for their quick and well-trained efforts in assisting residents and police with the investigation.