Reuters New Media [ Yahoo | Write Us | Search | Info ] [ Index | News | World | Biz | Tech | Politic | Sport | Scoreboard | Entertain | Health ] _________________________________________________________________ Previous Story: Gingrich Marks Contract With America Date Next Story: Gingrich Astonished at Gore on Campaign Reform _________________________________________________________________ Saturday September 27 11:37 PM EDT Illinois Police Standoff Enters Sixth Day CHICAGO (Reuter) - A standoff between Illinois state police and a 51-year-old widow in southern Illinois entered its sixth day Saturday with negotiations continuing but no progress seen, the police said. Sgt. Flynn Hanners of the Illinois State Police said negotiators have been contacting Shirley Ann Allen every 15 to 20 minutes to try to get her out of her house in Roby, about 15 miles east of the state capital Springfield. The standoff began Monday when Christian County sheriff's deputies and a family member attempted to serve court-ordered commitment papers for a psychological exam on Allen, he said. "Our whole design behind this is to get her out of the house and get her the medical attention she needs because she obviously has some mental illness that needs to be treated," Hanners said. He added that the police have been in constant contact with Allen's family and doctors and that a psychologist who works with the state police has been at the scene. Hanners said no activity has been seen since Friday morning when Allen fired a 12-gauge shotgun at officers and negotiators after the officers had fired six 12-gauge bean bag rounds at her, striking her three times. The officers fired after Allen left the house, faced the negotiators who were in plain view and raised the shotgun "as if to fire," he said. "Three of the six rounds struck her in the chest area, the midsection, but she was not stunned," he said. The bean bag shots are designed to knock someone to the ground, but Hanners said the shots had no effect on Allen, probably because of the number of layers of clothing she was wearing. Allen also fired at the police Tuesday when two officers has gotten close to the house "trying to get a look in," Hanners said. He added that power had been cut to the house temporarily Tuesday. _________________________________________________________________ ________________________ ___________ Help _________________________________________________________________ Previous Story: Gingrich Marks Contract With America Date Next Story: Gingrich Astonished at Gore on Campaign Reform _________________________________________________________________ [ Index | News | World | Biz | Tech | Politic | Sport | Scoreboard | Entertain | Health ] _________________________________________________________________ Reuters Limited Questions or Comments