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2 unusual facts about Shirley Allen


Shirley Allen

Shirley Allen, of Roby, Illinois, is a former nurse whose family's 1997 attempt to have her involuntarily committed led to a 39-day standoff (described by some as a "siege") with Illinois State Police and other law-enforcement agencies.

(There is some controversy as to whether Allen fired first, and indeed, police have offered contradictory statements on this.) The police used tear gas, rubber bullets, Barry Manilow music played at high volume day and night, and a police dog to attempt to take her into custody, and eventually shut off her power and water, and arrested a neighbor who tried to bring her food and water.



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