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Jury rules death a suicide

[FEB. 20, 2003]  A panel of six Logan County residents heard the account of an accident that occurred on Interstate 55 just west of Lincoln on the evening of Friday, Jan. 10. Logan County Coroner Chuck Fricke described the order of events and provided medical evidences for the jury to decide cause and manner in the death of Michael T. Keeney of Springfield.

Keeney, a 42-year-old parole agent for the state of Illinois, District 3, had transported prisoners to Pontiac earlier in the day and was returning to Springfield in a state-owned vehicle at the time of the incident. He was the only occupant.

His vehicle was southbound at mile marker 125½ when it was witnessed leaving the road. The van crossed three lanes of oncoming northbound traffic, traveled down a ravine and up a hillside before being stopped by a grove of small trees and coming to rest on its driver side.

Sgt. Eric Hall, a state police investigator, said there were at least four independent witnesses who saw the vehicle leave the road, stopped and tried to assist. Other people also tried to help, but since it was a transport vehicle it was difficult to get into.

Lincoln Rural Fire Department took the vehicle apart piece by piece, starting at the passenger side. Fricke said that when access was gained, Keeney's seat belt had to be cut, and then he was taken out of the vehicle.

Keeney's work supervisor was contacted, and it was reported that Keeney had been experiencing mild arrhythmia over the holidays and was seeing a doctor.

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His T-shirt was cut open. He was wearing a bulletproof vest. It was removed. There were no external wounds and no apparent injuries.

Keeney was confirmed dead at 8:15 p.m.

Autopsy results showed that there was a laceration and gray powder toward the back of his tongue. Dr. Michael Markey of Springfield reported that there were multiple contusions and bruising to the brain stem and a fractured cervical spine. The damages were caused by the blunt force trauma of a bullet. The bullet was lodged inside.

A .40-caliber pistol and cartridge were found in the vehicle.

A vitreous ethyl alcohol test measured Keeney as having a .09 alcohol level, .08 being the legal limit.

After hearing the account of the scene and medical evidences, the jury had no questions and deliberated for a short time. They returned with a statement agreeing that Keeney died from a gunshot wound to the head, and they believed it to be suicide.

[Jan Youngquist]

Police Reports

Link to Illinois sex offender information provided by the Illinois State Police:

http://samnet.isp.state.il.us/ispso2/sex_offenders/index.asp

Searches available by city, county, ZIP code and name.

Community Policing Activities

Reduce the risk of injuries while traveling

[Click here for announcement posted Feb. 7 regarding a special safety enforcement period.]

New Citizens Police Academy accepting applications

[JAN. 30, 2003]  The Lincoln Police Department is currently accepting applications for the Citizens Police Academy. The classes are one day a week, and there are 10 classes, beginning March 11. Applicants must be at least 17 years old.

Applications may be picked up at the Lincoln Police Department and must be returned no later than March 1.

The Citizens Police Academy shows citizens of the community how the department operates and covers areas from administration to traffic control. Participants of the class will also be allowed to ride along with a Lincoln police officer for up to eight hours.

If you are interested in law enforcement or would just like to see what your police are doing, please join the class. There is no cost to the participants.

Contact:

Community Policing Officer Tim Butterfield

Lincoln Police Department

(217) 732-2151

[Lincoln Police Department news release]

Court News

Name, age, address; date, charge; sentence

(No postings for the week ending 2-13-03)

Marriage Licenses

(Week ending 2-13-03)

• Jerry L. Walls, Decatur
  Lisa L. Fleming, Atlanta

• Stephan Chandler, Lincoln
  Freda Frazier, Chicago

• Michael C. Davenport, Hartsburg
  Kia A. Diener, Hartsburg

• Estreberto B. Tranquilono, Bloomington
  Marisol Steward, Bloomington

• Aaron G. Gray, Lincoln
  Angela J. Pirrone, Lincoln

Dissolutions

(Week ending 2-13-03)

• Ronald A. Hester, Atlanta
  Tina L. Hester, Lincoln

• Larry T. Marrs, Lincoln
  Carolyn D. Marrs, Logan County

• Alberta L. Johnson, Elkhart
  Debbie M. Johnson, Mount Pulaski

Most Wanted

Call (217) 732-4159 with any information.

Call (217) 732-4159 with any information.

ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE INCIDENTS OR ANY OTHER CRIME IN THE LINCOLN/LOGAN COUNTY AREA IS URGED TO CALL "CRIME STOPPERS" AT 732-3000 OR E-MAIL AT crime@ccaonline.com.  YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND YOU MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS.  IF YOUR INFORMATION LEADS TO THE ARREST OF THE PERSON(S) INVOLVED, "CRIME STOPPERS" WILL PAY YOU A CASH REWARD UP TO $1,000.

"CRIME STOPPERS" HAS AN ANSWERING MACHINE TO ANSWER YOUR CALLS.  THIS IS TO PROTECT YOU IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS (YOUR CALLS CANNOT BE TRACED WITH THE MACHINE).  YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW HOW YOU CAN BE CONTACTED ABOUT THE INCIDENT, OR YOU MUST WATCH TO SEE IF THE SUBJECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED.  THIS IS SO WE CAN MAKE A PAYOUT.

Cases

• Sometime before 9:22 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2001, a Chevrolet Cavalier was taken without the owner's permission from the 200 block of Latham Street in Lincoln. The vehicle was later found stuck in the mud at the Sportsman's Club. Crime Stoppers is asking for information as to who had taken the vehicle.

• Sometime before 9:11 a.m. on July 21, a burglary occurred at Lincoln Junior High School, 208 Broadway St. in Lincoln. Unknown person(s) broke a window on the third floor and gained access to the building. Unknown person(s) went through the school and caused damage and vandalism to the school property.

• Late Sunday night and early Monday morning, March 18 and 19, someone stole items from five different Lincoln vehicles.
  The first vehicle was parked at a residence on the 1800 block of Pekin. A $175 radar detector was taken from the car.
  In one of the Lincoln Christian College parking lots, change was stolen from an automobile.
  On the 200 block of Mayfield, several items totaling $75 were stolen from a car parked at the owner's residence: a book binder, school books, homework, a calculator, a learner's permit and some change.
  The next vehicle was parked inside a garage on the 900 block of N. McLean. The owner remembers locking the garage door. A portable CD player, which is worth about $100, was taken from the vehicle.
  The last theft was from a car parked at the owner's residence. A $50 AM/FM CD player was stolen.
  There are no suspects at this time, but due to the timing of the crimes it is believed that they may be connected. If you have any information about these thefts, please contact the Lincoln Police Department at 732-2151, or Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

• A series of thefts in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 15, is under investigation. There are no suspects yet, but police believe that one person or group is responsible for all of the crimes. 

  The first vehicle, a pickup truck, parked at the owner's residence in the 500 block of Tremont, was entered through the rear sliding door. It is estimated that $400 worth of property was stolen: a radio, duffle bag, four clothing items, prescription sunglasses, two flashlights and a disposable camera.

  The second vehicle had an AM/FM CD player stolen. To gain entry, the suspects forced entry to the side door of the '93 Jeep, which was parked in front of the owner's residence in the 300 block of Tremont. The radio is worth about $100.

  Two cars were broken into in a residential parking lot on the 100 block of S. Logan St. One vehicle, a truck, had a CD player removed; the suspects removed the dash cover to take the $200 unit.

  The other vehicle, a van, had a radar detector removed. The detector is worth about $100.

  If you have any information about these crimes, please contact the Lincoln Police Department at 732-2151 or Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

• On Feb. 19, 2001, between 6 and 8:15 p.m. unknown person(s) placed an unknown substance on a 1999 Cadillac parked at the Mount Pulaski grade school. The grade school is located at 200 N. Garden Street in Mount Pulaski. The substance caused extensive damage to the paint on the vehicle. The Mount Pulaski Police Department, (217) 792-5018, and the Lincoln/Logan County Crime Stoppers are requesting anyone with any information to contact them.

• On Jan. 16, 2001, a possible arson occurred at 127 N. Kickapoo St. (the old Scully Building) in Lincoln. The possible arson was reported at approx. 7:12 p.m. on that date. Anyone with any information about this incident who may have seen anything or anyone in the area of the building is asked to contact the Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Fire Department or Crime Stoppers.

• On Jan. 12, 2001, sometime between 6  and 9 p.m., a burglary occurred on Mayfair Drive in Lincoln. Unknown person(s) forced open a garage door and entered the residence. Unknown person(s) looked through dresser drawers and a closet. Taken from the residence were several shotguns, a cellular phone and a camera.

• Sometime between Nov. 23 and Nov. 27, 2000, unknown person(s) entered a residence on the west side of Lincoln. Unknown person(s) forced entry to the residence and went through it. Several items of jewelry where taken, along with a laptop computer and an unknown amount of U.S. currency.

• Sometime between Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, 2000, unknown person(s) forced entry to the Plaza Wash and Lube at 2821 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln. Unknown person(s) broke a window on a door on the east side of the building. Unknown person(s) entered the office area and took an assortment of U.S. currency and some product coupons. Estimated damage to the door was around $70.

Information on payouts

Total calls received:       241

Solved cases:                   45

Arrests made:                   60

Dollar amount of drugs and merchandise recovered:    $36,200.00

Dollar amount paid out for rewards:    $9,775.00

(2000 figures)

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