(Editor’s note: 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 and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
March 7 – Samantha M. Turner, 21, of Dupo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant and for no insurance and no rear registration plate light on Old State Route 3 at AA Road.
March 9 – Anthony J. Newcom, 35, of Columbia, was cited for public intoxication in the 200 block of North Main Street.
March 9 – Reginald D. Pittman, 36, of St. Louis, was arrested on an in-state warrant and for driving while license suspended and driving too fast for conditions on I-255 westbound.
March 10 – Jeffrey E. Furlong, 42, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, no valid registration and driving while license suspended on Admiral Parkway northbound at Veterans Parkway.
March 10 – Robert J. Statler, 25, of Columbia, was arrested on an in-state warrant at 327 N. Main Street. Also arrested at that address was Ryan J. Aukema, 18, of Columbia, for possession of cannabis and criminal damage to property, that being a vehicle in the 100 block of West Legion Street.
March 11 – Robert L. Powell, 24, of St. Louis, was arrested on a fugitive from justice out-of-state warrant on I-255 westbound.
March 12 – Bradley K. Rahmoeller, 29, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI and illegal transportation of alcohol on Route 3 near Palmer Road.
March 12 – Brandon L. Petrillo, 29, of Granite City, was arrested for possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, and on an in-state warrant on Rueck Road at Quarry Road.
March 13 – Derek L. Done, 30, of Columbia, was cited for disorderly conduct at 2607 Columbia Lakes Drive.
March 13 – Aeron J. Brown, 19, of Swansea, was arrested for DUI on Route 3 at Frontage Road.

Monroe County Sheriff
March 3 – A domestic incident on East Lincoln Street in Hecker involving multiple subjects is under investigation.
March 7 – Randi N. Reitz, 21, of New Athens, was arrested in Hecker on a Monroe County warrant for failure to appear on the original charges of possession of a controlled substance and criminal trespass to property.
March 10 – Donald R. Mueller, 43, of New Memphis, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
March 11 – Aaron J. Brigance, 21, of Valmeyer, was arrested on an in-state warrant near Maeystown.
March 11 – Kyle J. Wacholtz, 45, of Prairie du Rocher, was arrested for domestic battery following an incident on McBride Road in Prairie du Rocher.

Waterloo Police
March 9 – Meg Nordike, 26, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant.
March 10 – Zachary Dillon, 23, of Waterloo, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Main Street at Gardner.
March 10 – Emma Schaefer, 21, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 100 block of North Church Street. Also arrested in the incident was Austin Kennedy, 18, of Waterloo, for possession of drug paraphernalia.
March 13 – Zachary Buckman, 18, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant.
March 13 – Kelly Ann Voelker, 23, of Millstadt, was arrested for felony retail theft after she allegedly took merchandise valued at more than $300 from Walmart.
March 13 – Sophie Thorburg, 20, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery and felony aggravated battery at 311 West Mill Street. The aggravated battery charge was added after she allegedly pushed a Waterloo police officer.
March 13 – Robert McRoberts, 30, of Waterloo, Eric Jost, 30, of Belleville, and Aaron Mardirosian, 24, of Waterloo, were each issued city ordinance violations for public fighting at Denny’s, 959 North Illinois State Route 3.

Brandon Van Doren

Four suspects in a Missouri robbery were apprehended in Columbia late Wednesday morning after they fled across the river in a stolen car and abandoned it in the Columbia Lakes subdivision.

The individuals arrested were driver Brandon S. Van Doren, 21, of St. Louis, who was charged with resisting a peace officer, unlawful possession of a controlled substance (heroin), unlawful possession of hypodermic needles, possession of a stolen vehicle, disobeyed traffic light, improper lane usage, fleeing and eluding police and speeding 40 miles per hour over the posted limit; Shawn Lamb, 23, of St. Louis, who was charged with resisting a peace officer, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and fugitive from justice;

Shawn Lamb

Tosha Fox, 23, of St. Louis, who was charged with resisting a peace officer and possession of a stolen vehicle; and Tesla Sensabaugh, 22, of St. Louis, formerly of Tennessee, who was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol, possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting a peace officer.

At 9:54 a.m., Columbia police were alerted by St. Louis County police that a black Nissan Maxima stolen from Jefferson County, Mo., and involved in the robbery of a Kmart on Lemay Ferry Road in South St. Louis County, was headed toward the Jefferson Barracks Bridge. A Columbia police officer quickly located the vehicle, which exited I-255 onto Route 3 and then Old State Route 3.

Tesla Sensabaugh

A chase was called off due to high speeds, and additional police units set out to locate and track the car.

It entered the Columbia Lakes subdivision, where it was abandoned, and four occupants exited and ran in separate directions. One male suspect was quickly apprehended near Red Roof Liquor & Lottery and taken into custody. The others, two females and a male, were apprehended after about 90 minutes of searching.

“We were able to set up a perimeter,” said acting Columbia police chief Jerry Paul. “We had a lot of agencies, a lot of help.”

Tosha Fox

The three remaining suspects were located by Waterloo’s K-9 team of officer Trin Daws and Ayla near the wooded area behind a concrete embankment at Columbia Lakes Drive and Old State Route 3.

“A passing Missouri motorist flagged down an officer and reported he saw two females run out of the woods and back in near the embankment,” Paul said.

K-9s from Columbia, Waterloo, Dupo, Cahokia and St. Clair County assisted with the tracking. Monroe County Sheriff’s Department deputies assisted in the search and apprehension of the suspects, as did Illinois State Police troopers and an ISP plane. Police in Missouri who were investigating the robbery initiated the search for the suspects.

Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards

In a step that may indicate a decision on charges is forthcoming, a judge last week formally granted an order to appoint a special prosecutor in the case involving Joe Edwards, who was placed on leave last month from his position as Columbia’s police chief due to an investigation into a domestic matter involving his family.

As expected, Monroe County State’s Attorney Kris Reitz moved for the appointment of a special prosecutor on March 15.

“The prosecution of the defendant by the state’s attorney’s office could be a conflict of interest for the office, or alternatively, could create the appearance of an impropriety,” Reitz stated in his motion. “It is in the interest of justice that a special prosecutor be appointed to avoid any such appearance.”
Judge Dennis Doyle granted the order on March 16.

A special prosecutor will be appointed from the Illinois Office of the State’s Attorney in Springfield.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department conducted an investigation into the case involving Edwards, who is divorced with two teenage daughters. The issue under investigation stems from an ongoing child custody dispute, police have said.

Edwards has served as Columbia’s police chief since 2003.

Columbia Deputy Chief of Police Jerry Paul is serving as acting chief since Edwards was placed on paid administrative leave.

(Editor’s note: 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 and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
March 14
Candice D. Cooley, 18, of Columbia, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant at 327 N. Main Street.
March 15
Dennis W. Cooley, 37, of Dupo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant and also on a new charge of assault.
Robert M. Davis, 33, of St. Louis, was arrested on St. Clair and Fayette County warrants and for driving while license revoked, no insurance and expired registration on North Main Street.
March 16
Charles M. Kemp, 51, of St. Charles, Mo., was arrested on multiple Monroe County warrants on Route 3 at Palmer Road.
March 20
David L. Smith, 27, of Frohna, Mo., was arrested for theft after allegedly taking a beer sign at Tiny’s, 602 N. Main Street.
March 21
James Henry Lorraine, 39, of Millstadt, was arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes, no valid license, no valid registration and no insurance on Admiral Parkway southbound at Veterans Parkway.

Monroe County Sheriff
March 16
A 16-year-old was arrested for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia in the Waterloo High School parking lot following a K-9 search for narcotics. The paraphernalia was located inside the student’s vehicle.
March 17
Jamie K. Hurst, 34, of Columbia, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
Farrah A. Bramble, 39, of Smithton, was arrested for driving while license suspended, no insurance and illegal transportation of alcohol on the Circle K parking lot, 209 S. Market Street, Waterloo.
March 18
Vicki M. Stanberry, 38, of Red Bud, was arrested for DUI, improper lane usage and no insurance on Route 3 south of Waterloo.
A report of subjects fighting outside Route 3 Bar & Grill south of Waterloo, resulting in a car being damaged, is under investigation.
March 19
Deputies assisted Waterloo fire personnel and electric crews after a farmer knocked over power lines with his tractor in the area of D Road and Estate Drive near Hanover Road during the late afternoon, resulting in a power outage. No injuries were reported.

Waterloo Police
March 1
Todd Jahr, 30, of Swansea, was arrested for retail theft at Helping Hand Thrift Store, 695 N. Moore Street, after allegedly taking 38 games and movies.
March 15
Zachary Dillon, 23, of Waterloo, was arrested for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia on W. First Street at N. Main Street.
March 17
Sean Shaw, 20, of Waterloo, was arrested for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia on Rose Lane at Route 3.
March 20
Bailey C. Price, 19, of Waterloo, was arrested for retail theft at Walmart after allegedly taking nine separate makeup items.

Pictured at right, CCSI staff member Patti Fahey tells Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing what she thinks she would do if she heard shooting from one direction during an active shooter training session at the school on Thursday. (Alan Dooley photo)

Active shooter incidents at schools, movie theaters and shopping malls have become frequent enough incidents in this country that training to respond to them is more prudent now than ever.

Staff and teachers at the Career Center of Southern Illinois, formerly Beck Area Vocational Center, east of Hecker took advantage of students being off Thursday to explore ways of protecting themselves and their students from such attacks.

A session was conducted by Monroe County Sheriff Neil Rohlfing and three of his deputies who have been specially trained to provide this type of program.

Training began after lunch, with CCSI personnel and county law enforcement personnel gathering in a classroom to discuss the subject and examples of responses.

It is routine for schools to conduct fire, earthquake and tornado drills, CCSI employees were told. But, for example, while the last fire death in a school occurred in 1968 in Chicago, active shooter incidents have taken dozens of lives since then.

“The very fact that people are thinking about what they would do is excellent,” Rohlfing told them.

Deputy Jason Ettling conducted the bulk of Thursday’s presentation, focusing on a program dubbed the “Four E’s: Educate, Evade, Escape and Engage…>>>

Read this story in the March 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 you can pick up a copy at the R-T office at 205 W. Mill Street in Waterloo or at any of these other locations.

A former Waterloo resident entered a guilty plea in federal court this week on a firearms possession charge.

Joshua J. Doty, 28, of Marissa, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to James L. Porter, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The offense took place last summer in Monroe County.

Sentencing is set for July 8, during which Doty faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. Doty agreed to the forfeiture of the firearm he pleaded guilty to possessing.

Court documents state that on July 1, 2015, the Illinois Department of Corrections, accompanied by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, conducted a parole compliance check at the Doty residence at 6002 J Road in Waterloo. During the check, a New England Firearms 20-gauge shotgun was found in a bedroom closet used by Doty. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department assisted with this compliance check.

Doty acknowledged knowing the firearm was at the residence and that he could not lawfully possess a firearm as a convicted felon.

In 2013, Joshua and his father, Charles L. Doty Jr., were charged in Monroe County with felony unlawful possession of cannabis (more than 2,000 grams) and unlawful production of cannabis sativa plants. Nine marijuana plants were discovered by police at 6002 J Road, according to court information. Josh Doty was also charged with felony driving while license revoked (second offense) at that time.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department worked in conjunction with the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois on that case.

(Editor’s note: 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 and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
March 21
Cody Lee Rhodes, 28, of Pevely, Mo., was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
March 27
Ryan J. Aukema, 18, of Columbia, was arrested for disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia at 1008 Forestview Road.
March 28
Fortino S. Medina, 25, of Arnold, Mo., was arrested on an in-state warrant.

Illinois State Police
March 27
Emergency personnel assisted ISP in responding about 11:30 a.m. to a single-vehicle crash with possible injury on I-255 northbound near the Dupo exit in St. Clair County. The vehicle involved was a white SUV with multiple occupants.
March 29
ISP issued an all points bulletin to area police agencies about 11 a.m., after a gold 2005 Ford sedan with Missouri plates fled a traffic stop on the north end of Columbia. The car, driven by two white males, was last seen in the area of Imbs Station Road.

Monroe County Sheriff
March 21
Geoffrey Olish, 34, of Valley Park, Mo., was arrested on a Monroe County warrant at Fast Stop in Waterloo.
March 23
Dylan L. Kent, 22, of Red Bud, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
March 26
Justin Huntley, 20, and Colton Hearty, 20, were each cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol in the 6100 block of Redbird Lane.
March 28
Shannon Michael Ruckhaber, 43, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery on Stonefield Drive.

Waterloo Police
March 23
James E. Williams, 44, of Cahokia, was arrested for DUI, driving while license suspended and driving while license revoked on Route 3 at Country Club Lane.
March 25
Taylor Thacker, 18, of Fenton, Mo., was arrested for unlawful possession of cannabis and disobeying a traffic control device on Lakeview Drive. Also arrested for possession of cannabis was Eric O’Brien, 20, of Waterloo.
March 26
James Cody Voss, 23, of Waterloo, was arrested for unlawful possession of cannabis on Columbia Avenue at Route 3.
Jessica Lancaster, 22, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery in the 100 block of Hartman Lane.
March 28
Police are investigating multiple reports of criminal damage in the 1300 block of Cody Drive. There were several holes in the siding of a house, possibly due to a BB gun, and raw chicken found inside a hot tub, causing it to malfunction.

On April 1, Steven D. Walker, 24, of Granite City, was transported from the Pontoon Beach Police Department to Monroe County on an arrest warrant for sexual exploitation of a child.

Court information states that on Dec. 19 at 913 North Main Street in Columbia, Wagner exposed himself to a child under the age of 17.

A trial date of May 4 at 9 a.m. has been set at the Monroe County Courthouse on the misdemeanor charge.

Mary B. Lockett

A birthday memorial of stuffed animals and balloons could be seen outside the Dupo home of 4-year-old Emily Rose Perrin on Tuesday following what police described as a “tragic incident” on Sunday.

Instead of celebrating a birthday, the items were placed in mourning.

Emily’s mother, Mary B. Lockett, 36, of 105 N. Ninth Street, was charged Tuesday with the first-degree murder in the case.

Court information at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville alleges Lockett suffocated her young daughter, who suffered from cystic fibrosis.

Grievers have set up a makeshift memorial at the 105 North Ninth Steet home of Emily Rose Perrin, who was allegedly murdered by her mother, Mary B. Lockett, April 10, just days before her fifth birthday.

Police found Emily unresponsive and unconscious about 2:30 p.m. Sunday inside her home after receiving a 911 call about a child not breathing.

Upon arrival at the scene, EMS personnel attempted CPR on Perrin, and continued it on the way to the hospital, to no avail, according to a news release issued by Dupo police.

The child was pronounced dead at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County.

During the investigation into Emily’s death, Dupo police brought in the Illinois State Police and the Southern Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force to assist the department.

Those familiar with the family told the media Emily battled cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs, as well as other organs, causing frequent infections and making breathing, keeping a clear airway and gaining weight extremely difficult. Cystic fibrosis usually involves daily care and treatments and continuous health monitoring.

Next door, at 107 N. Ninth Street, Dupo resident Rex Long said he did not interact much with his neighbors and that they had only moved in a few weeks ago.

“They pretty much kept to themselves,” Long said.

However, Long said his daughter had played with Emily a few times.

Dupo School Superintendent Steve Smith said grief counselors were on hand Monday at Bluffview Elementary School, where Emily had attended pre-kindergarten classes.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for funeral and burial costs. Click here to make a donation.

(Editor’s note: 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 and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
March 28
A 17-year-old was cited for disorderly conduct at 1008 Forestview Drive.
April 1
Kathi J. Statler, 48, of Dupo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant and for no insurance at North Main Street at East Lepp Street.
April 2
Kristen J. Seibert, 42, of Columbia, was arrested for DUI and illegal transportation of alcohol at 375 East Locust Street.
April 4
Columbia police, fire and EMS assisted Mehlville, Mo., emergency responders following a rollover crash involving a pickup truck on I-255 eastbound at the J.B. Bridge about 5:30 p.m. There were no injuries reported, but traffic was backed up into South St. Louis County as a result.

Monroe County Sheriff
March 30
Stephen M. Underwood, 38, of Red Bud, was arrested on Randolph and Alexander County warrants on Route 3 at LL Road.
March 31
Derek T. Sipp, 26, of Columbia, was arrested for DUI, unlawful possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane usage on Bluff Road at Harres Lane. Also arrested was Matthew Nichols, 22, of Dupo, on a St. Clair County warrant.
April 1
Larry Wilkerson, 53, of Dupo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
Steven D. Walker, 24, of Granite City, was transported from the Pontoon Beach Police Department to Monroe County on an arrest warrant for sexual exploitation of a child. Court information states that on Dec. 19 in Columbia, Walker exposed himself to a child under the age of 17. He remains in custody at the Monroe County Jail.
April 3
The report of a fence damaged overnight on Martini Road by a vehicle is under investigation.
Waterloo Fire Department and Monroe County EMS assisted deputies in responding about 2:35 p.m. to a motorcycle crash with minor injury in the 5300 block of Route 3 near KK Road.
April 4
Jasmine Darough, 27, of Cahokia, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
April 5
Waterloo Fire Department and Monroe County EMS assisted deputies in responding about 5:45 p.m. to a one-car crash on G Road about a mile south of Kaskaskia Road. A northbound white Chevrolet Cruze driven by a female ran off the west side of the roadway and struck a tree. The driver was transported by ambulance to a Missouri hospital.

Waterloo Police
April 1
Madelyn McGinnis, 18, of Waterloo, was arrested in the Harrisonville Telephone Company parking lot on a Monroe County warrant.
April 2
Cory Dixon, 28, and Ayla Jones, 23, both of Sparta, were each charged with two felony counts of retail theft following incidents at the Waterloo Walmart on March 28 and March 31. A 70-inch TV and other items were allegedly taken from the store.
April 3
Brian Vitelli, 44, of Waterloo, was arrested in the 300 block of West Mill Street for domestic battery.
Heather M. Radwick, 38, of Florissant, Mo., was arrested for domestic battery and felony aggravated battery.

Lonnie D. Pearson

A November drug arrest on Interstate 255 in Columbia has resulted in new charges related to child porn for a Missouri man.

Lonnie Dean Pearson, 52, of Kirkwood, Mo., was taken into custody last week on a Monroe County arrest warrant for five felony counts of possessing child pornography. He posted bond on Tuesday and was released from the Monroe County Jail in Waterloo.

Pearson was initially arrested Nov. 7 on a St. Louis County probation violation in addition to charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

During the I-255 traffic stop, police said Pearson consented to searches of his vehicle and all contents in his possession, including a cell phone. His phone was turned over to the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois, a multi-jurisdictional drug task force. At that time, MEGSI found disturbing images on Pearson’s phone and decided to involve the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Task Force. A detailed analysis of the phone by task force investigators determined that Pearson’s phone contained sexually explicit images of adults into which the faces of children were digitally inserted onto the bodies, police said.

An arrest warrant was subsequently issued on the child porn charges.

(Editor’s note: 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 and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
April 8
Tina M. Sloss, 34, of Imperial, Mo., was arrested for DUI, speeding and improper lane usage on I-255 at milepost 7.
Steven M. Conaway, 54, of Columbia, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant on Route 3 at Palmer Road.
Zachary A. Notter, 22, of Columbia, was charged with failure to provide information after striking property, improper backing and improper lane usage. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department also charged him with DUI following an early morning incident on HH Road in which road signs and poles were struck by his vehicle.
April 10
The theft of a washer game set from a detached garage in the 700 block of West St. Louis  Street at about 2:30 p.m. is under investigation. Police said a younger white male wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and a white female dressed in black were the suspects. Two suspect vehicles are a silver Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix and a tan 2000 Ford Taurus type car.

Monroe County Sheriff
April 5
Jacob Mathenia, 20, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding at Fast Stop in Waterloo.
The illegal dumping of eight large truck tires in a creek bed on Brickey Road at Obst Road is under investigation.
April 7
A 16-year-old was arrested on a Monroe County warrant on S. Main Street in Waterloo.
Keith W. Anthony, 23, of Belleville, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
The theft of an old farming disc from the woods in the area of 5200 L Road is under investigation.
April 9
Two teens were transported to a St. Louis hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained in a rollover crash that occurred about 11:40 p.m. in the area of 6000 Maeystown Road south of Waterloo. The vehicle involved was a red 2007 Pontiac driven by a 16-year-old Waterloo girl. The car was totaled as a result of the crash.
April 10
Emergency personnel responded about 12:30 a.m. to a vehicle rollover crash with entrapment on Route 156 near D Road east of Valmeyer. The driver was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis for treatment of injuries not considered to be life-threatening.
April 11
David G. Price, 40, of Red Bud, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic needle.
Lonnie Pearson, 52, of Kirkwood, Mo., was served a Monroe County arrest warrant on five counts of felony possession of child pornography. The incident occurred on Feb. 8, according to court information, and alleges that Pearson possessed visual reproductions of a minor engaged in sex acts. He remains in custody at the Monroe County Jail.

(Editor’s note: 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 and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
April 11
Kenneth R. Cox, 26, of Bonne Terre, Mo., was arrested on a Bond County warrant on I-255.
April 16
Tony A. Webb, 34, of Columbia, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant near the Columbia Soccer Club fields.

Monroe County Sheriff
April 14
Quentin Hughes, 21, of East St. Louis, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.
April 15
Claire A. McGinnis, 52, of Waterloo, was arrested for a DUI on Route 156 westbound near Waterloo city limits shortly before 2 a.m.
April 17
Maggie Faris, 19, of Waterloo, Kierstor L. Dirawell, 18, of Waterloo, Austin Ray, 19, of Fults, and Jacob Thorburg, 18, of Waterloo, were each cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol in the area of 4300 JJ Road about 1:30 a.m.
Monroe County EMS and Valmeyer emergency personnel responded about 3:15 p.m. to a motorcycle crash with injuries at 7854 Bluff Road. The male motorcyclist, Donald Arban of Granite City, was complaining of road rash at the scene and his female rider, Angela Arban, was bleeding from the face and arms. Both were transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County.
Amber A. Smith, 33, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant on Maeystown Road.
April 19
Deputies requested an Illinois State Police crime scene unit to assist in investigating a possible break-in on G Road reported during the afternoon with items reported missing.

St. Clair County Sheriff
April 18
Prairie du Pont fire and EMS personnel responded about 4:30 p.m. to the area of 8600 Triple Lakes Road for a two-vehicle crash with possible injuries. One vehicle rolled over, according to a St. Clair County EMA official. No other information was available.

Waterloo Police
April 13
Two men from Chicago were charged in connection with fake credit cards used at Walmart. Stanley Lee Jr., 24, and Dwayne Oliver Jr., 25, both of Chicago, were each charged with felony counterfeiting of a credit card. Lee was also charged with felony identity theft. Court information states that they knowingly possessed a USAA Bank credit card with knowledge that the card had been obtained fraudulently.  Bond was set at $25,000 each.
April 14
Jason Stewart, 41, of Waterloo, was arrested for a DUI and improper lane usage on South Market Street at Bulldog Boulevard.
April 16
James Hankammer, 62, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery at 305 W. Fourth Street.
Steven R. Van Dyke, 36, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery at 509 S. Main Street.
April 17
Scott Snodgrass, 53, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery at BoBeck’s.
Adam Kempf, 33, of Waterloo, was cited for criminal trespassing at Walmart following a March 16 incident.

Benjamin W. Harbaugh

A rural Waterloo man who was recently arrested in another county for having sex with a minor was charged this week in Monroe County Circuit Court on several counts of possessing child pornography.

Benjamin W. Harbaugh, 25, was arrested Thursday on 10 counts of child porn, a Class 2 felony. Court information alleges Harbaugh possessed visual reproductions of children engaged in sex acts with another person and that he “knew or reasonably should have known” the victims to be under 13 years of age.

Harbaugh was arrested in February following an alleged sexual act with a teenager in Perry County on Christmas day.

Harbaugh was picked up by authorities in Monroe County on the Perry County warrant for aggravated criminal sexual abuse. This charge is also a Class 2 felony.

Court information alleges that Harbaugh committed a sex act with a male victim who was at least 13 but under 17 years of age when that alleged act took place on or about Dec. 25.

On April 8, police said they executed a search warrant at a home on Gladel Drive in rural Waterloo, where Harbaugh was residing. At that time, investigators found evidence of thousands of digital photos and videos of child porn in Harbaugh’s possession.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department in investigating this case, Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing said.

“They were closely involved in this case,” he said.

Harbaugh was transported to the Monroe County Jail on the charges with bond set at $100,000. He posted bond Thursday night and was released with a court date of 9 a.m. June 2.

“Given the severity of the charges, we’re attempting to get his bond revoked on the Perry County charge and hope to have him back in custody soon,” Rohlfing said.

Parents of children who may have had recent contact with Harbaugh are asked to contact the sheriff’s department at 939-8651.

The Columbia Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a rash of motorcycle thefts reported in the area over the past few days.

On Saturday morning, officers investigated the theft of a motorcycle from a locked shed in the 100 block of West Oak Street in Columbia.

“It is believed the motorcycle was taken during the evening hours of the previous day,” Acting Columbia Police Chief Jerry Paul said.

On Wednesday morning, police investigated the theft of another motorcycle from the apartment complex parking lot in the 2600 block of Columbia Lakes Drive. The owner last saw the motorcycle around 9 p.m. the previous night.

Also on Wednesday, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the theft of a motorcycle from the 7000 block of D Road.

Paul said the CPD believed these three thefts may be related. Police are seeking the public’s assistance in solving these crimes.

“If you have any information to provide on the three occurrences listed above, we ask that you please contact the police department at 281-5151,” Paul said. “If you witness suspicious activity in the proximity of a detached shed or any questionable incidents involving motorcycles, please call and report the activity immediately.”

Pictured is the motorcycle involved in the crash on Route 3 south of J Road. (Alan Dooley photos) 

At about 9 p.m., Red Bud Fire Department, along with Monroe County sheriffs and EMS and Illinois State Police, were dispatched to Route 3 south of J Road for a motorcycle crash with one injury.

First responders requested Survival Flight to land at Red Bud Regional Hospital, from where the driver was transported to a St. Louis hospital for treatment of a serious leg injury; 911 callers earlier reported he was wearing a helmet.

Witnesses reported the driver of the motorcycle was headed northbound and lost control of the bike while attempting to pass another vehicle in an area with uneven pavement.

Earlier in the evening, Monroe County ambulance and sheriff’s department personnel, along with Valmeyer first responders and ISP, were called at about at 8 p.m. to a motorcycle crash in the area of 3078 Route 156, between Deer Hill and Old Baum Church roads, just west of Boehne Road.

Pictured is the motorcycle involved in the crash at 3078 Route 156,. 

First responders on the scene initially contacted ARCH and Survival Flight, but weather in the area had several helicopters grounded; the patient, who was unconscious upon emergency personnel arrival, was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center, St. Louis.

Traffic was restricted to one lane as emergency workers tended to the patient and worked to clear the crash scene.

These developing stories will be updated as more information is available.

(Editor’s note: 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 and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
April 23 – Charges are being reviewed by the state’s attorney following the report of a stolen vehicle involving a family member in the 800 block of S. Rapp Avenue. A 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis was reported stolen and later recovered in Caseyville.
April 26 – Shamar A. Houston, 23, of Centreville, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Admiral Parkway at Veterans Parkway.
April 28 – Rhiannon A. Towler, 36, of East Carondelet, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (hydrocodone) and possession of drug paraphernalia following a March 21 incident.
April 30 – Brittany N. Jones, 25, of Millstadt, was arrested for DUI, expired registration and no insurance at 548 S. Main Street.
May 1 – William D. Flinner, 31, of Columbia, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant and for expired registration on Columbia Lakes Drive at Brookfield Court.
May 1 – The possible attempted theft of a vehicle outside of Tiny’s on Main Street is under investigation. The car’s ignition appeared to have been tampered with.
May 2 – Trenton D. Gibson Jr., 26, of East Carondelet, was charged with retail theft, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public intoxication following a March 29 incident at Schnuck’s.

Dupo Police
April 29 – Michael G. Hoverson, 29, of Dupo, was charged with three counts of threatening a public official, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon with an altered serial number. He stands accused of threatening to shoot a Dupo police officer with a crossbow and also allegedly threatened to set fire to the Dupo police station. Hoverson possessed a .410-gauge shotgun with a barrel shorter than 18 inches and with the serial number removed.

Illinois State Police
April 28 – Bradley K. Rahmoeller, 29, of St. Louis was charged with possession of a controlled substance following a March 12 incident in Columbia. The case was investigated by MEGSI.

Monroe County Sheriff
April 29 – Meg Nordike, 26, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant.
April 29 – James F. Tallmadge, 48, of Troy, and Nicholas Tipton, 19, of Collinsville, were each arrested for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia on Moore Road at Illinois Avenue.
April 30 – Jacob Thorburg, 18, of Waterloo, was cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol and Devin Conaway, 23, of Waterloo, and Samantha Benyo, 23, of Valmeyer were each cited for illegal transportation of alcohol.

Waterloo Police
April 26 – Katherine J. Albert, 18, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia at Waterloo High School.
April 27 – Austin Wathan, 18, of Waterloo, was cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol at Waterloo High School.
April 29 – Jyll House, 24, of Columbia, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to pay fines warrant and cited for speeding.
April 29 – Tiffany Anderson, 31, of Cahokia, was arrested for domestic battery on North Market Street.

Pictured, Waterloo firefighters extinguish a car fire under a carport on North Market Street. (Sean McGowan photo)

The Waterloo Fire Department responded about 3 p.m. Wednesday to a car on fire at 324 North Market Street in Waterloo.

The car was parked under a carport, which was attached to a house.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it spread. The house did not suffer significant damage.

Three suspects are facing felony burglary charges in connection with an April incident in Columbia.

Charged with two counts of burglary are Billy Kidd Stephens, 23, of Waterloo, and Karin L. Wheeler, 28, and Jon P. Linnertz, 39, both of Red Bud.

Court information states that sometime between April 1 and 12, the three entered a detached shed in the 700 block of North Main Street in Columbia and stole lawn equipment and other items, including a small tractor, with a total value exceeding $10,000. All three were taken into custody this week on the charges with bond set at $50,000 and a June 2 preliminary hearing date set at the Monroe County Courthouse in Waterloo.

Columbia police worked with the Red Bud Police Department on this case and obtained helpful information in late April that led to the arrests.

Whelan was arrested by Red Bud police on April 29 for the theft of lawn equipment she was trying to re-sell, according to the North County News.

Linnertz has an extensive criminal record in both Monroe and Randolph counties, including drug and theft charges. Last July, he was arrested by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department on a parole violation and transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Stephens was previously convicted of burglary and other related offenses in Monroe County.

“It was a collaborative effort between the two departments to solve this,” Acting Columbia Police Chief Jerry Paul said.

Some of the stolen property involved in this case has yet to be recovered, Paul added.

Pictured is the crash scene on Friday. (Sean McGowan photo)

A woman airlifted from the scene of a crash south of Waterloo has died of her injuries at a St. Louis hospital.

Emergency personnel responded about 4:30 p.m. Friday to a two-vehicle crash on Maeystown Road at KK Road south of Waterloo.

The Waterloo Fire Department was dispatched to the scene due to entrapment, and Arch Air Medical Helicopter transported one patient to a St. Louis hospital with serious injuries.

The sheriff’s department said Marcia Andres of Belleville was airlifted to Saint Louis University Hospital. Her passenger, Dennis Grimes, was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County.

The other vehicle was driven by Timothy Burns Jr. of Fults. He was transported to Red Bud Regional Hospital.

An Illinois State Police accident reconstructionist team kept the highway closed for several hours.