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Incident
Constable Arthur Blomstrom was shot and killed while attempting to serve an assault warrant at a suspect's house. Accompanied by the county sheriff, a deputy sheriff and a jailer, the officers went to the suspect's house south of Lerna shortly after 2:00 pm when the deputy sheriff knocked on the rear door. After receiving no answer, the officers started for the front of the house, when a blast from a 16-gauge shotgun caught Constable Blomstrom in the face. The other officers retreated while the sheriff was able to crawl to his car under cover and went for assistance. A posse of more than 25 citizens and police officers from Charleston and Mattoon came to assist and surrounded the house. While the house was being peppered with gunfire, a rope was used to loop around Constable Blomstrom's arm and dragged him away from the house. He was transported to a Mattoon hospital, but died as the ambulance reached the city limits about 3:45 pm. The coroner later found 108 pellets from the shotgun lodged in the constable's face and neck. The posse continued the siege and only after the house was bombed with tear gas did officers enter the house. They found the suspect dead from an apparent self-inflicted shotgun blast. The assault warrant issued for the suspect was the result of him striking his wife and daughter about the head with the butt of the shotgun during a dispute over his veteran's pension checks.
Survivors
Constable Blomstrom was survived by his wife, son, daughter and 10 grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Blomstrom served with the Coles County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Blomstrom.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Arthur is the only officer of Coles County Sheriff's Department remembered here.
Arthur is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Arthur is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Arthur is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1949, 5 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 54th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1949, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1949, 65 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 122nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Arthur was 54. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38.
Arthur was 54. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Arthur was 54. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 7.4% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Sundays: 15.2%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Coles County Sheriff's Department. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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