Pictured, from left, are Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing, Dispatcher Dawn Kreher, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Ettling, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Larry Chausse, Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith, Waterloo Police Department Officer Dale Siebenberger, Dispatcher Adam Tyberendt and Waterloo Police Chief Jim Trantham. (Corey Saathoff photo)

The Waterloo City Council on Monday night honored five of this county’s finest for their successful efforts on an elderly female during a medical emergency in September.

Those recognized with the city’s Lifesaver Award were Monroe County Sheriff’s Department dispatchers Dawn Kreher and Adam Tyberendt, MCSD Sgt. Larry Chausse, MCSD Deputy Jason Ettling and Waterloo Police Department Officer Dale Siebenberger.

On the evening of Sept. 13, Siebenberger was dispatched to the scene of an unresponsive elderly woman in town. When the call came out, Ettling realized the call involved his neighbor, so he informed Chausse of the medical emergency.
Ettling and Chausse assisted Siebenberger at the scene, and together the three determined the woman was in cardiac arrest and began CPR.

Chausse retrieved an AED device and after the second shock, the woman became responsive.

“Until EMS arrived, they sustained her,” Waterloo Police Chief Jim Trantham told those gathered in the council chambers on Monday night. “She has recovered and is doing well.”

Alderman Vicki Koerber, who also works for Monroe County EMS, expressed her gratitude for the coordinated life-saving effort.

“You guys are heroes, no doubt,” Koerber said. “I will tell you it starts with that 911 phone call. Dispatch starts the ball rolling.”

She praised Kreher and Tyberendt as two of the best in the profession…>>>

Read the full story in the November 18 issue of the Republic-Times. If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here, or pick up a copy at any of these locations.

A former Columbia resident was indicted in federal court on Wednesday on nine counts alleging he embezzled money and committed loan fraud while working as an employee of Scott Credit Union.

Theodore J. Longust, 50, worked in the commercial loan department of Scott Credit Union from 2005 to 2014, court documents at U.S. District Court of Southern Illinois in East St. Louis indicate.

The charges include fraud, misapplication on funds, money laundering and making a false record with the intent to deceive.

Longust is alleged to have created unauthorized loans in November 2008 to a church, and used money from one loan to pay personal credit card bills totaling $76,124.

The indictment further alleges that Longust executed a scheme to defraud through the embezzlement of credit union funds, creation of fraudulent loans, payment of loans through the misapplication of funds from other loans, the increase of credit limits on loans that did not have requisite board approval, issuance of business loans without required documentation or security and the issuance of letters of credit without required documentation and security.

The indictment alleges that Longust submitted a false report to Scott Credit Union for the third quarter of 2014 that misstated loan balances and omitted loan amounts and underreported loans of more than $12 million.

Scott Credit Union employees cooperated fully in the investigation.

Longust is set to appear in court on Dec. 4. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 240 years in prison and a fine of $4.5 million, plus restitution.

A 24-year-old man was sentenced this week for his role in the March 17 death of a 2-year-old Renault boy inside his home.

Ryan A. Miller, who now resides in Marble Hill, Mo., was sentenced in Monroe County Circuit Court to two years of conditional discharge, fined $483 and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service after pleading not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child.

He was formally charged on Sept. 8.

The Monroe County coroner’s office determined the death of 27-month-old Jase C. Tojo to be accidental, indicating the cause of death to be “asphyxiation with contributing factors of respiratory complications, co-sleeping and bedding material.”

In addition to the deceased boy, those present inside the home at 2143 Main Street in Renault when police arrived late in the morning on March 17 included the Jase’s 23-year-old mother, Sydney Tojo, a younger baby and Miller — who was Sydney’s live-in boyfriend at the time but not Jase’s father.

Court information states that Miller knowingly co-slept with young Jase, who had a bronchial inflammation, in a partial overlay position in the living room after Miller had consumed alcohol and while Jase was lying face down on soft bedding material. Miller had been watching Jase and Sydney’s other young child while she was working, court records state.

The Southern Illinois Child Death Task Force assisted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and coroner’s office in this investigation.

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Nov. 10
A two-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Palmer Road at Southport Drive near Red Roof Liquor & Lottery. A 2005 Dodge Stratus driven by Daniel Crook, 31, of Red Bud, struck the rear of a 2001 Ford Mustang driven by Cynthia Mitchell, 41, of Cahokia, which was turning left onto Southport from Palmer. Mitchell was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center. Crook was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Andrew C. Bine, 41, of Waterloo, was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage on Route 3 at Frontage Road.
Nov. 12
Dennis G. Pretto, 29, of Columbia, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant at 234 N. Rapp Ave.
Nov. 13
Scott L. Corbin, 37, of Columbia, was arrested for domestic battery at 2804 Lakeside Drive.
Jeffrey T. Ostendorf, 45, of Columbia, was arrested for domestic battery at 451 Micah’s Way.
Nov. 14
James C. Voss, 23, of Waterloo, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Route 3 at Bottom Avenue.
Nov. 15
Mark L. Davidson, 52, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI, no insurance and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident at 1553 N. Main Street.

Monroe County Sheriff
Nov. 10
Adria E. Pasnokot, 38, of Fults, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia on Route 156 at Cemetery Road.
Nov. 11
Matthew S. Smith, 20, of St. Louis, was arrested for possession of cannabis in the 4600 block of G Road.
Nov. 12
Ryan Hopson, 21, of Fults, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
Nov. 13
Monroe County EMS, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and Maeystown Fire Department personnel responded shortly after 3:30 p.m. to the area of 2500 Sutterville Road in Fults, following what was reported to be an accidental self-inflicted shooting involving a woman. A Survival Flight medical helicopter transported the victim, Valerie L. Anderson, 44, to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis for treatment of a gunshot wound to the thigh. Anderson told police she was clearing a shotgun jam when the incident occurred.
Eric Huggins, 49, of Red Bud, was arrested for DUI on Route 3.
Nov. 14
Andrew J. Griesbaum, 22, of Waterloo, was cited for failure to yield after the 2011 Ford Fusion he was driving collided with a 2004 Monte Carlo driven by Tina L. Mattingly, 39, of Red Bud, at the intersection of Main and Monroe streets (Route 159 and Route 156) in Hecker about 1:30 p.m. Mattingly and a 12-year-old passenger were transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville.        Nov. 15
Aaron Sensel, 36, of Prairie du Rocher, was arrested for domestic battery on South Fork Road.
Terri L. Gwin of Collinsville was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

Waterloo Police
Nov. 10
Amanda Schultheis, 26, of Prairie du Rocher, was arrested for retail theft at Walmart. She is alleged to have stolen shampoo, a vacuum cleaner and other items from the store.
Nov. 11
Misty D. Calvert, 26, of Marissa, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (heroin) and criminal damage to property at Walmart. She was also charged with felony retail theft for an Aug. 23 incident at the store in which video game consoles were stolen.
Randi N. Reitz, 21, of New Athens, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and criminal trespass to property at Walmart.
Nov. 12
Gage P. Chandler, 19, of Valmeyer, was charged with burglary after he allegedly entered a vehicle in the 300 block of Hoener Street.
Endry Dover, 37, of Washington Park, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant.

A 40-year-old Red Bud man faces burglary charges stemming from an incident that occurred in Waterloo on Thanksgiving morning. Jimmy D. Jones, 40, of Red Bud, was arrested and charged with felony residential burglary and burglary for break-ins that occurred about 6 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of Magnolia Avenue.

Police said Jones entered a building on the property at 208 Magnolia and a home at 206 Magnolia. He allegedly entered the home at 206 Magnolia by breaking glass on an attached garage door.

“The family in the home sheltered themselves and the responding officer took one male into custody for burglary inside the home,” Waterloo Police Chief Jim Trantham said. “The male was tased during the incident when he refused to obey the officer’s commands.”

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Nov. 23
Christopher A. Turkington, 18, of Columbia, was arrested for burglarizing a motor vehicle in the Turner Hall parking lot, 211 E. Cherry Street. Also charged with burglary is a 17-year-old juvenile.
Nov. 27
Columbia police, fire and EMS responded shortly after noon to a two-vehicle crash on Route 3 at Gilmore Lake Road. One of the vehicles traveled down an embankment. One person involved in the crash complained of chest pains but refused medical transport.
Nov. 28
Erika D. Vogt, 24, of Dupo, was arrested for a St. Clair County warrant on Woodland Terrace at Ghent Road.
Nov. 29
Terri Lynn Stevenson, 31, of Cahokia, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant and for speeding and no insurance on Admiral Parkway northbound at Veterans Parkway.
Dec. 1
A possible theft at Sand Bank School, 11832 Old Bluff Road, is under investigation.

 Monroe County Sheriff
Nov. 21
A 2000 Saturn driven by Jason A. Haley, 35, of Waterloo struck the rear of a 2013 Ford Escape driven by Richard A Rapp, 49, of Millstadt, on Floraville Road west of Martini Road about 12:20 p.m. A passenger in Haley’s car, Amanda Haley, 28, of Waterloo, was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County. Jason Haley was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and no insurance.
Nov. 23
The report of a possible violation of an order of protection in the area of 7000 Fountain Creek Ridge Lane is under investigation.
Nov. 27
Britney Mynch, 25, of New Athens, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and driving while license suspended outside of Hope Christian Church off Route 3.
Nov. 29
Roger Reitz, 25, of Red Bud, was arrested for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia in the Rural King parking lot.
Aaron Roesch, 33, of Oakville, Mo., was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

Waterloo Police
Nov. 23
Richard Melching Jr., 26, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant for felony forgery. He is alleged to have obtained $975.66 by means of a fraudulent check.
Nov. 24
Area police agencies were put on lookout for a man and woman suspected of stealing an HP Pavilion computer from the Waterloo Walmart about 10:45 a.m. The suspects drove away from the store in a black Chevrolet Tahoe that was last seen traveling northbound on Route 3. The woman was driving, and the man was described as having a beard and wearing camouflage clothing. The suspects remain at large.
Nov. 26
Jimmy D. Jones, 40, of Red Bud, was arrested and charged with felony residential burglary and burglary for incidents that occurred about 6 a.m. in the 200 block of Magnolia Avenue. He allegedly entered a building on the property at 208 Magnolia and a home at 206 Magnolia. “The family in the home sheltered themselves and the responding officer took one male into custody for burglary inside the home,” Waterloo Police Chief Jim Trantham said. “The male was tased during the incident when he refused to obey the officer’s commands.”
Nov. 27
Spencer J. Bouldin, 21, of New Athens, was arrested for domestic battery at 101 Debra Lane.

A St. Louis man is believed to have taken his own life while being held at the Monroe County Jail in Waterloo.

Monroe County EMS responded Monday morning to the jail for an unresponsive 39-year-old male inmate. He was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County, where he was pronounced dead.

“The male subject was being held from a Waterloo Police Department arrest involving various charges and a warrant for his arrest out of Missouri,” Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing stated in a press release issued Tuesday.

The man was arrested Saturday and was being held in a cell by himself, Rohlfing told the Republic-Times.

The Illinois State Police Investigations Division and Crime Scene Unit responded to the jail to conduct an independent investigation. The cause of death has not been released pending toxicology reports but is believed to be a suicide.

“We were requested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department to assume the investigation of an apparent self-inflicted injury which caused his death,” said Lt. Dave Bivens of the ISP Investigations Division. “There is no apparent foul play suspected, but we’re still looking at it as a whole to make sure.”

ISP investigators were brought in to ensure an impartial investigation was conducted, Bivens added.

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Dec. 3 – Catherine D. Hicks, 44, of Union, Mo., was arrested for multiple St. Clair County warrants on Route 3 southbound north of North Main Street.
Alan Bates, 43, of Columbia, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant in the 400 block of Bottom Avenue.
Dec. 5 – Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, 38, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage in the 1200 block of North Main Street.
Dec. 6 – James J. White, 35, of Cahokia, was arrested on an Illinois State Police warrant on I-255 westbound at milepost 5.8. Also arrested was Jennifer M. Berg, 30, of Cahokia, on a St. Clair County warrant.

Illinois State Police
Dec. 5 – Danielle L. Buloth, 27, of Wood River, was arrested for DUI on I-255.

Monroe County Sheriff
Dec. 1 – Shannon Arnold of Granite City was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
Dec. 4 – A report of criminal damage to property is under investigation in the 700 block of State Route 156. The property owner reported that someone poured water into the transmission of a John Deere tractor.
Dec. 5 – Brandon Reddick of Columbia was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
An attempted burglary reported in the 5300 block of State Route 3 is under investigation. Knobs on the front and rear doors of the residence were loose, and the front door was found unlocked and partially open. Nothing was believed missing from the home.

St. Clair County Sheriff
Dec. 6 – A woman was rescued after her car lost control and drove` into a pond in the 7000 block of Triple Lakes Road near Millstadt about 8:30 p.m. An off-duty firefighter was the first to arrive on scene. The woman was transported to an area hospital by ambulance for treatment of injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.

Waterloo Police
Dec. 1 – Spencer J. Bouldin, 21, of New Athens, was charged with harassment of a witness stemming from his arrest on Nov. 27 for domestic battery at 101 Debra Lane. Court information states that Bouldin harassed a man who was expected to be a witness in the pending legal case.
Dec. 7 – Waterloo police and Monroe County EMS responded about 5 p.m. to a two-vehicle crash with injury on Route 3 at North Market Street. A Chevrolet Cavalier driven by a 17-year-old Waterloo woman was traveling north on Route 3 and collided with a Pontiac Grand Am driven by a 16-year-old Prairie du Rocher woman, who was traveling south on Route 3 and attempting to turn left at the intersection. The 17-year-old was cited for disobeying a traffic control device. The 16-year-old was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

Emergency personnel work at the scene of the July 15 crash near Columbia High School. (Corey Saathoff photo)

The Waterloo woman involved in a July 15 crash in Columbia that seriously injured a New Athens girl was charged this week in Monroe County Circuit Court with felony aggravated DUI.

Katherine A. Brinkley, 26, of Waterloo, is currently serving time at Logan Correctional Center on a parole violation stemming from incidents that occurred in St. Clair County just prior to the crash that evening on Route 3 at Veterans Parkway in Columbia.

On Thursday, Brinkley entered a not guilty plea to the felony charge at the Monroe County Courthouse. Court information alleges that on the evening of July 15, Brinkley drove a 2001 Lexus while under the influence of drugs when she was involved in the injury crash. Her bond was set at $100,000 and she was remanded to the custody of Logan Correctional Center with a local court date of March 2 set.

Columbia police said Brinkley’s Lexus SUV was traveling northbound on Route 3 shortly after 9 p.m., when it collided with a white 2009 Pontiac G6 driven by Brett Luther, 18, of Columbia, which was crossing Veterans Parkway eastbound through the intersection with Route 3. Luther was transported by Monroe County EMS ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County for treatment of a head injury. His passenger, Nikki Warnecke, 17, of New Athens, required extrication from the car by firefighters and was flown by ARCH Air Medical Services helicopter to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Brinkley was not injured in the crash and was escorted from the scene to the police station for questioning.

Shortly after the crash, Brinkley was charged in St. Clair County with three felony counts of aggravated battery involving a victim above 60 years of age plus charges of fleeing police, reckless driving, no drivers license and other traffic violations following an incident in Belleville the same night of the crash. Police said there was no chase involving Brinkley in Columbia that night, but witnesses did report a vehicle matching the same description as Brinkley’s traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Route 3 shortly before the crash occurred.

Brinkley has a prior conviction in St. Clair County for possession of a methamphetamine precursor stemming from a 2011 arrest. In May, she was charged in St. Clair County with possession of a controlled substance.

Warnecke was in a coma for more than a week following the crash and suffered a brain injury in addition to a lacerated liver and broken pelvis.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for her lengthy recovery: www.gofundme.com/5d3udwd53w.

Family members have reported steady improvement in Warnecke’s condition via the Facebook group “Nikki’s Prayer Ninjas.”

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Dec. 10
Marvin Wallace, 48, of Centreville, was arrested on Illinois State Police and St. Clair County warrants on Valmeyer Road at Admiral Trost Boulevard.
Dec. 11
Christopher J. Jelinek, 48, of East Carondelet, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant on I-255.
Dec. 14
Roman P. Foster, 21, of Columbia, was arrested for aggravated DUI, speeding, fleeing and eluding police, and driving while license revoked in the 100 block of Ferkel Street.
Mackenzie Bates, 18, of Columbia, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance (heroin) on Ghent Road at Woodland Terrace. Also arrested was Shawn Braddum, 26, of East Carondelet, for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Heather Proffitt, 20, of Dupo, and Steven Harper, 32, of Cahokia, were each charged with two counts of retail theft for incidents that occurred on Nov. 20 and Dec. 9 at the Columbia Schnucks.

Monroe County Sheriff
Dec. 8
Michael Russell, 41, of St. Louis, was arrested on an in-state warrant.
Dec. 10
Jamie Fitzgerald, 37, of Prairie du Rocher, was arrested on an in-state warrant at Fast Stop in Prairie du Rocher.
Dec. 13
Blake Reid, 27, of Waterloo, and Kimberly Vogel, 19, of Millstadt, were each arrested for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia on Kaskaskia Road.
Dec. 14
Sergio A. Raisch, 21, of Columbia, was arrested for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia on Gall Road at Hanover Road.

Waterloo Police
Dec. 12
Maxwell Wise, 24, of New Athens, was arrested for criminal trespass to property at Walmart, 961 N. Market Street.

Pictured are members and supporters of the local chapter of Moms Demand Action who participated in an “Orange Walk” in Columbia on Dec. 13 to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook School shooting.

On Dec. 13, nearly 30 people braved rainy and windy conditions to participate in a cause they feel very passionate about.

An “Orange Walk” took place outside Parkview Elementary in Columbia to honor all victims and survivors of gun violence.

“We asked people to wear orange because orange has become a symbol of the gun violence prevention movement,” said Cindy McMullan, a retired Columbia High School teacher who volunteers as a group leader for the Southern Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “It represents the value of human life. Like hunters, road crews and school crossing guards, we wear orange to be seen and to keep ourselves and others safe.”

The Columbia walk commemorated the three-year mark of the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting and was one of more than 100 such events to take place across the country.

“At our event, we carried 31 candles – 26 for the lives taken at Sandy Hook and five for those taken at Northern Illinois University,” McMullan said.

The featured speaker in Columbia was Mary Kay Mace, whose only child, Ryanne, was shot and killed during the mass shooting at NIU in 2008…>>>

Read the full story in the December 23 issue of the Republic-Times. If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here, or pick up a copy at any of these locations.

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Dec. 16
Kyle A. Klaus, 32, of St. Louis, was arrested on St. Clair and Monroe County warrants and for driving while license revoked and speeding on I-255 westbound at milepost 5.6.

Illinois State Police
Dec. 16
A passenger vehicle and an AmeriGas truck were involved in a two-vehicle crash on Route 3 at KK Road at about 10:55 a.m. Illinois State Police handled the crash investigation and report. The driver of the AmeriGas truck was Ray Bense. The driver of the other vehicle was Katherine Haudrich. No serious injuries were reported.

Monroe County Sheriff
Dec. 15
A report of criminal damage to property in the area of 5800 Maeystown Road is under investigation. A Fountain Water District water meter was damaged.
A report of criminal damage to property in the area of 5300 State Route 3 is under investigation. A basement window was broken out of a home at that location, but nothing was reported missing from the home.
Dec. 16
Marc D. Glover, 54, of East St. Louis, was arrested for unlawful possession of cannabis and driving while license suspended on I-255.
Dec. 17
Hecker Fire Department and Monroe County Sheriff’s Department personnel responded with Ameren to a single-vehicle crash with power lines down on West Monroe Street just west of Second Street in Hecker about 7:30 p.m. A 2002 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Jacquelyn S. Rawlings, 45, of Red Bud, swerved off the roadway and struck a power pole after she suffered some sort of medical situation and blacked out. She refused medical transport at the scene.
Sean Bagwell, 28, of Litchfield, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

Waterloo Police
Dec. 7
Dakota Schmitz, 18, of Waterloo, was arrested for battery at Waterloo High School. Police said Schmitz broke lunch trays over the head of a fellow student during an altercation.
Dec. 11
Timothy Burns Jr., 20, of Fults, was cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol at 509 Park Street.
Dec. 17
A four-vehicle crash occurred about 5:30 a.m. on Route 3 near South Market Street. A Chevrolet Silverado driven by Daniel Billington, 47, of Hillsboro, Mo.; Ford Fusion driven by Rex Roehrkasse, 52, of Red Bud; Honda Accord driven by Teri Alrashidi, 36, of Ruma; and Chevy 1500 truck driven by Larry Yost, 51, of Prairie du Rocher, were the vehicles involved. No injuries were reported. Billington was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and improper lane usage.
Jason E. Gregory, 31, of Smithton, was charged with retail theft for an Oct. 6 incident at Walmart in which he allegedly stole two X-Box controllers from the store.
Dec. 18
Waterloo police and fire personnel responded about 1:10 a.m. after a vehicle struck a utility pole in the 500 block of North Moore Street, resulting in a fire to the pole and vehicle. The driver, Justin C. McCance, 28, of Waterloo, exited the vehicle safely and was not seriously injured. He was arrested for DUI, expired registration, driving while license suspended, no insurance and driving in the wrong lane.
Dec. 20
Lyn Falk, 43, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery on Front Street.

Pictured at the Waterloo City Council meeting on Monday night, from left, are Waterloo police officer Scott Spencer, brothers Sal and Rylee Stallone, Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith, Alderman Russ Thomas and Waterloo Police Chief Chief Jim Trantham. The Stallone brothers received the Good Neighbor Award for actions they took during a November incident.

The Waterloo City Council joined the Waterloo Police Department Monday night in honoring two young local boys for their efforts to help a neighbor in November.

Brothers Sal and Rylee Stallone received the city’s Good Neighbor Award for actions they took during a Nov. 19 incident.

The young men noticed smoke coming from their neighbor’s garage and upon further investigation could hear the engine of a car running inside the garage. After unsuccessfully attempting to make contact with the neighbor at her front door, they called their mother, who was at work.

Sheri Stallone made the 911 call to report the incident. WPD Officer Scott Spencer was the first to arrive on scene and was able to crawl under the garage door…>>>

Read the full story in the December 30 issue of the Republic-Times. If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here, or pick up a copy at any of these locations.

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Dec. 27
Christina J. Davis, 29, of Columbia was arrested for domestic battery following a disturbance in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Monroe County Sheriff
Dec. 27
Heather Emerson of Fairview Heights was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
Dec. 28
Donovan Wilson of St. Louis was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
Michael T. Lane, 55, of West Frankfort, was arrested for felony possession of cannabis and improper lane usage following a traffic stop on I-255.
A possible domestic battery that occurred on Main Street in Renault is under investigation.
A report of criminal damage to property at 5229 Kaskaskia Road is under investigation. The back tires of a vehicle were slashed.
The Waterloo Fire Department was paged out shortly after 10:30 p.m. for a report of power lines down in a tree causing flames at HH Road and Buck Run.
Dec. 29
Deputies assisted Valmeyer first responders at the scene of a single-car crash on Bluff Road between Herbst Road and Fountain Road at about 6:30 a.m., with one victim complaining of back pain.

Waterloo Police
Dec. 18
Officers are encouraging residents to keep vehicle doors locked at all times and valuables hidden from plain view following a report of a male subject wearing a hoodie that was digging around inside of an unlocked truck in the 500 block of Glendell Lane about 2:30 a.m. Anyone with information on this or other similar recent incidents may call the WPD at 939-8651.
Dec. 21
Phalyn Reymundo, 19, of Waterloo, was arrested for retail theft at Walmart. She is alleged to have stolen makeup and household goods from the store.
Jacob Gregory, 31, of Smithton, was arrested for retail theft at Auto Zone. He is alleged to have stolen a scanner and car battery from the store.
Dec. 23
Jerry Edwards, 55, of Columbia, was arrested on an in-state traffic warrant.
Dec. 26
Mitchell Gladney, 18, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 400 block of South Illinois Route 3.
Calvin Tell, 42, and Jaylen Nicks, 19, both of Belleville, were each arrested for burglary after police allege they tried to enter Dobbs Tire & Auto Center in Waterloo with the intent to commit a theft.
Dec. 27
Scott E. Smith Jr., 30, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Macoupin County warrant for failure to appear in court on the charge of failing to register as a sex offender.
Nicholas Ahrens, 46, of Valmeyer, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, no insurance, improper lane usage, expired registration and improper display of license plate on Columbia Avenue at Alpine Drive. Also arrested in the incident was Dean Hermann, 38, of Waterloo, for possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).

Patrick A. Gill

A sex offender from Missouri was charged Monday with criminal sexual assault following an incident reported Dec. 27 in Columbia.

Columbia police said Patrick A. Gill, 42, of St. Charles, Mo., was taken into custody by detectives Monday on the felony charge. An arrest warrant was issued last week.

Gill is currently being held at the Monroe County Jail in Waterloo on $50,000 bond. He is a registered sex offender in Missouri, police said.

 “The Columbia Police Department, along with St. Charles County, Mo., law enforcement agencies, had been actively searching for Gill since Dec. 27,” Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards said.

Columbia police were called to a residence on Brookfield Court during the morning of Dec. 27, after a woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted.

Chris Stasiak

Area fire departments and emergency personnel are still searching for a 44-year-old Dupo man who went missing Monday afternoon after he was dropped off to hunt in the woods near Cahokia.

There has been no contact with the hunter, Chris Stasiak, since he was dropped off in the 1100 block of State Route 3 around 1 p.m. Monday. His family had expected to hear from him before nightfall. Stasiak was reported missing late Monday night.

The Cahokia Fire Department received assistance from Illinois State Police, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit and the Columbia and Eureka fire departments in addition to other agencies. Crews used a helicopter with night vision while a thermal K-9 team searched on the ground.

Crews searched the area from Route 3 and Water Street south to Prairies Golf Course, but Stasiak had not been located as of Tuesday morning.

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Dec. 22
Alexander L. Sumoski, 19, and Ryan J. Smith, 20, both of Dupo, were arrested for unlawful possession of cannabis on Bottom Road at Bluff Road.
Dec. 29
Cameron H. R. Touchette, 18, of Columbia, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia at 110 Columbia Centre.
Dec. 30
Columbia police are investigating multiple burglary reports. Two such incidents occurred either late last Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning in the 700 block of St. Louis Street. One of the burglaries was reported at 4 a.m. Dec. 30, and involved a vehicle and carport, with items missing from each. Another burglary was reported to a detached garage in the 700 block of St. Louis Street, police said. Also in that time span, car break-ins were reported in the 2000 block of Lakeshore Drive and 1200 block of Rapp Street, Columbia police said. Tools and valuables left in plain view inside the vehicles were among the items reported missing. There were no signs of forced entry in any of these incidents. Detectives were checking pawn shops in Cahokia and other parts of the metro east as part of an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call 281-5151.
Jan. 4
The report of four tires stolen from Columbia Firestone, 250 Columbia Centre, is under investigation. The tires, valued at $600, have been missing since Dec. 30.

Monroe County Sheriff
Jan. 2
Jillian Olsson, 31, of Cahokia, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
Jan. 4
Jesse Dill, 22, of Waterloo, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis (more than 10 grams, less than 30 grams) stemming from a July 29 incident.
Victoria R. Kern, 22, of Dupo, was arrested for criminal damage to property following an incident at 135 Hayden Drive.

Missouri Highway Patrol
Jan. 4
A four-vehicle crash on I-270 north of Tesson Ferry Road in South St. Louis County involved a local woman. Police said a 2010 Ford Focus driven by Christopher Childers, 24, of Cadet, Mo., changed lanes to the left, causing his car to strike the side of a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Patricia Moore, 53, of St. Louis, which in turn struck the side of a 2012 Jeep Laredo driven by Kathleen A. Liefer, 62, of Waterloo, which then hit the median wall. A 2010 Chevy Malibu driven by Keith Kniepkamp, 56, of Swansea, then struck the rear of Moore’s vehicle. Moore and Liefer were both transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Waterloo Police
Dec. 30
Trendyl Shiverdeck, 21, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant for theft in the 700 block of Marney Lane.
Jan. 3
James Markel, 60, of Clayton, Mo., was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant on North Market Street at HH Road.

Pictured, Tim Valentine of the Valmeyer Fire Department speaks with Valmeyer Fire Chief Floyd Floarke following Tuesday’s rescue of a dog from an icy pond off Garleb Road. (Corey Saathoff photo)

The Valmeyer Fire Department responded to a call for help Tuesday in the area of 1300 Garleb Road at about 2 p.m., after a 2-year-old Saint Bernard mix belonging to Garrett and Brittany Crossin fell through the ice and into a frigid pond near their home.

The owners weren’t sure how long the dog had been stuck in the pond, but Koda was finally rescued by Tim Valentine of the Valmeyer Fire Department, who donned a cold water protection suit and went in after her. The dog, who was alive when pulled from the icy water but under duress, was brought back inside the Crossin home and immediately covered in blankets. The owners also used a hair dryer to help warm the dog.

Koda

Garrett Crossin saw his dog stuck in the pond and tried to conduct a rescue himself but also fell through the ice. He was able to get out of the frigid water but could not get the dog out, so he called 9-1-1.

“I was in dire need of help today and the Valmeyer Fire Department was there,” Crossin said. “Thanks to them, my family is still whole and my dog is doing well. I can’t thank all of them enough.”

Crossin said his dog was checked by a personal friend to make sure the family took proper steps to treat Koda following the incident.

The area of 1300 Garleb Road is located off Bluff Road near the Fountain levee, north of old town Valmeyer.

The Columbia Fire Department also responded to provide water rescue assistance, but the dog was already out of water by the time they arrived.

(Editor’s note: All information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Columbia Police
Jan. 8 – Amanda L. Hunt, 25, of St. Louis, was picked up and transported to the Monroe County Jail on a felony arrest warrant for burglary stemming from September thefts from vehicles in Columbia.
Jan. 8 – Police are investigating an afternoon domestic situation reported in the 100 block of E. Lepp Street involving a 27-year-old pregnant woman who was believed to be smoking meth. No arrests have been made in the case.
Jan. 10 – Alejandro G. Osario, 30, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI, driving in the wrong lane, and improper passing on the shoulder on I-255 southbound at milepost 7.6.

Monroe County Sheriff
Jan. 4 – Ronald Briddell of Collinsville was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant.
Jan. 5 – Alfonso Reed, 59, of Alorton, was arrested for driving while license revoked, no insurance, expired registration and illegal transportation of alcohol on I-255.
Jan. 5 – Sabrina Stawizynski of Columbia was arrested on a Monroe County warrant for failure to appear on charges of retail theft and aggravated identity theft.
Jan. 6 – Kathryn L. Schrader, 65, of Waterloo, was transported to Belleville Memorial Hospital for treatment after the 2006 Chevy Equinox she was driving on Route 156 west of Susewind Lane about 11:20 p.m. ran off the roadway and struck mail boxes before coming to rest against a tree. Schrader told police she suffered some sort of medical condition and “blacked out,” causing the crash.

Waterloo Police
Jan. 4 – Glenn J. Rabbermann, 39, of Waterloo, was issued a city ordinance violation for public conduct following an incident that occurred inside the AT&T store, 947 North State Route 3.
Jan. 7 – Corey Hurley, 22, of Millstadt, was arrested for retail theft at Walmart after allegedly taking a PS3 video game from the store.
Jan. 10 – Steven A. Garrison, 36, of Hillsboro, Mo., was arrested on a Randolph County warrant and for felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia on Route 3 at Warren Drive.
Jan. 10 –  Kayla Reynolds, 32, of Red Bud, was arrested on a St. Clair County failure to appear warrant on the charge of no insurance.
Jan. 10 – Jordan R. Bunn, 26, of Smithton, was arrested on two felony counts of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property following an altercation inside an apartment in the 300 block of Front Street. Bunn is alleged to have battered a victim above the age of 60 as well as a pregnant woman in the incident.

Pictured is the Ford Focus that was involved in a fatal Friday night crash near New Athens.

A 24-year-old New Athens woman died in a two-car crash on Route 156 just east of Geo Leilich Road near New Athens in St. Clair County on Friday night.

The woman was traveling west on Route 156 in a Pontiac Grand Am at about 9:50 p.m., Illinois State Police said, when it appeared that her car slid on a snow-covered patch of roadway and turned sideways into the eastbound lane. An eastbound Ford Focus driven by a 20-year-old Waterloo woman t-boned the Grand Am.

“The snow-covered roadway had to contribute to the crash,” ISP Trooper Calvin Dye Jr. told the Republic-Times.

The New Athens woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The Waterloo woman was transported to an area hospital with injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening.

The names of those involved in the crash have not yet been released.

ISP was assisted by emergency agencies from New Athens, Freeburg and Marissa as well as the St. Clair County coroner’s office.

Route 156 was closed in the area of the crash until about 2 a.m. Saturday, Dye said.