Kankakee Times

The Bradley Police Department had several run-ins with Darius Sullivan prior to the execution-style killing of Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, of which he stands accused.

Sullivan, 25, is being held without bail for Rittmanic’s murder with her service revolver which Bradley Police say was caught on her duty camera.

Sullivan’s girlfriend, Xandria Harris, 26, is also being held on the charges.

Sullivan is being charged with gunning down Rittmanic and her partner Tyler Bailey, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head. In May of 2021 Sullivan allegedly ran from police after he beat up Harris’ younger brother and punched her in the face. In a victim statement Harris said Sullivan accidentally punched her in the face in the fight with her brother when she tried to step into the middle. She gave the account from the back of an ambulance.

Police noted Harris was eight months pregnant at the time. Harry’s brother, Xavier, told police Sullivan became angry after the two “started to argue about who has the faster car” and then he told Harris “that Darius had been cheating on her.”

“Xavier stated when they pulled up to the house on Quail, Darius got of the car, opened up the driver's door, where he was sitting, and began to choke him. He stated Darius choked him for three or four seconds before he was able to get Darius' hands off of him,” the police report reads.

Harris and her brother refused charges in the incident.

In March 2021, police responded to a “disorderly conduct” call in which Sullivan allegedly threatened to harm his landlord who requested he take down surveillance cameras that were installed without permission.

“The caller, Mark Steelman, advised when he knocked on the door to advise the renter to take down his cameras Darius became upset and started advising he was going to harm him,” the police report reads.

In June 2021, Harris was charged with fleeing an officer, illegal possession of marijuana and running a stop sign and turn signal.

The police officer in that incident said Sullivan was driving Harris’ car — a 2013 gold Chevy Malibu — when he ran through a stoplight to avoid Bradley Police. When the officer later found the vehicle, the driver was no longer inside.

In a search of the car, police found night sights and a laser meant to be attached to a pistol as well as a large bag of marijuana and a scale. Harris later spent $500 to retrieve the car.

On Oct. 22, 2021 police tried to stop Sullivan who allegedly ran away in another of Harris’ cars — a 2019 Jeep Renegade. Police noted the vehicle and its owner as well as her relationship to Sullivan, who they noted was wanted at the time for a burglary in Kankakee County.

In October 2020, Sullivan was noted as the suspected driver of a three wheeler vehicle that ran from police.  

Sullivan getting busted in Harris’s car was a common thing.

In 2019 he was was again driving Harris’s car –– a 2017 Kia Forte this time — when they were pulled over for having an expired registration. Sullivan was unable to show identification and was found to be driving on a suspended license and without insurance.

“I located a booking photo of Sullivan and confirmed his identity,” the responding officer wrote.

He was searched and let go in the incident. Harris later picked up the vehicle, again posting $500 bond for it.