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One dead in single-vehicle crash

[JAN. 11, 2003]  Michael T. Keeney, 42, of Springfield was the victim of a single-vehicle accident Friday evening. Keeney was a parole agent for the state of Illinois, District 3. He was driving a state-owned vehicle. There were no passengers.

Keeney was southbound on Interstate 55 near the 125½ mile marker when his vehicle left the road, traveled through the median and across the northbound lanes, and crashed into a small grove of trees. 

He was extricated from his vehicle by Lincoln Rural Fire and Rescue. Logan County Deputy Coroner Warren Rogers managed the scene. Keeney was declared dead at 8:15 p.m. by Logan County Coroner Chuck Fricke.

The cause of the accident is unknown at this time. It is under investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Logan County coroner's office. An autopsy was being performed this (Saturday) morning.

[Jan Youngquist]

Mount Pulaski death accidental but avoidable

[JAN. 10, 2003]  The death of David M. White at Mount Pulaski on Dec. 13, 2002, was ruled accidental but avoidable by a coroner's jury yesterday.

White, age 21, died as a result of "immediate mechanical asphyxiation" when he was pinned beneath the roof of a pickup truck in which he had been a passenger, according to an autopsy at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. He was pronounced dead at 11:40 p.m. by Logan County Deputy Coroner Warren Rogers.

The driver of the truck, Coty Tschantz, also of Mount Pulaski, had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, according to Sheriff's Deputy Wayne Hildebrandt, and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The one-vehicle accident occurred on 600th Street in Mount Pulaski, near Stahl's. The street, which connects state routes 121 and 54, is also called the Mount Pulaski spur.

Illinois State Trooper Rick Price, who reconstructed the accident, said the pickup truck veered off the north side of the road, became airborne for a distance of 19¼ feet, then nose-dived into a ditch at a 90 degree angle. The front end made a "head-on collision" with the ground, he said.

Price said the roads were dry, visibility was good, no other vehicles were involved and there were no problems with the steering mechanism of the truck.

[to top of second column in this article]

Hildebrandt said White was partially ejected from the right passenger window and part of his neck and chest were pinned to the ground. He said neither Tschantz nor White had been wearing seat belts, and the truck did not have air bags. By the time Hildebrandt reached the scene, Tschantz and a passer-by had rolled the truck, which had originally landed on its top, to its side, but a heart monitor showed that White was already dead.

According to Coroner Charles Fricke, White died because he was pinned between the overturned truck and the ground and was unable to breathe. The autopsy report did not indicate any internal injuries or skull injuries severe enough to have caused his death, Fricke said.

Tschantz originally refused a blood test after the accident, Hildebrandt said, but a routine test taken by the hospital where he was treated showed a blood alcohol level of .256. The legal limit in Illinois is .08. Witnesses said they had seen both White and Tschantz at a Mount Pulaski tavern.

State's Attorney Tim Huyett said he plans to file charges of reckless homicide against Tschantz when all police reports are in his hands. He said he is still waiting for the state police accident reconstruction and other documents.

[Joan Crabb]

Jury rules death accidental poisoning

[JAN. 10, 2003]  The death of Anthony Carr, age 41, of 1102 Fourth St., Osawathami, Kan., was ruled accidental by a Logan County coroner's jury yesterday.

Carr was pronounced dead by Deputy Coroner Warren Rogers at 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 11, 2002, at 2614 15th St., Lincoln. His death was a result of acute poisoning by a combination of therapeutic doses of medications, according to Coroner Charles Fricke.

Fricke said toxicology reports showed that Carr had ingested two medications, propoxyphene (brand name Darvon), a painkiller, and mirtazapine (brand name Remeron), an anti-depressant. Carr also had an alcohol blood level of .066, possibly from mouthwash from a bottle found nearby.

[to top of second column in this article]

According to Fricke, the level of Darvon which Carr took was a level he had previously tolerated, but which, because he had stopped taking the drug for some time, his body could no longer safely handle. He said Darvon is one of those drugs which some patients can tolerate in larger and larger doses if taken regularly over time; however, when the patient stops taking the drug, his tolerance drops, and if he is to start taking it again, he must begin at a low level and slowly build up to the level he previously could tolerate.

The combination of the sudden high level of Darvon with the Remeron and the alcohol caused the acute poisoning, Fricke said. An existing heart condition may also have contributed to Carr's death, he said.

[Joan Crabb]

Drive hammered...get nailed

Law enforcement begins new campaign
to crack down on DUI offenders

[JAN. 2, 2003]  Law enforcement agencies in Illinois are joining forces in an effort to save lives and prevent injury by inaugurating a new impaired-driving enforcement campaign called Drive Hammered...Get Nailed. This enforcement campaign coincides with the potentially dangerous holiday driving season and runs from Dec. 20 through Jan. 5. Law enforcement around the state will be taking a zero tolerance approach to impaired driving.

This holiday season, drive smart and don't take chances with your freedom, because chances are you will be caught. The choice is simple -- drive sober or designate a driver. If you drive hammered, you will get nailed.

[Illinois Department of Transportation]

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

Court News

Name, age, address; date, charge; sentence

(Week ending 1-10-03)

• Robert F. Babbs, 42, 731 S. McLean; 12-28-01. aggravated DUI; three years Department of Corrections

• Brooke M. Baker, 20, 116 N. Sherman; 12-5-02, battery; pleaded guilty, $250 fine plus court costs

• Derck J. Baker, 19, 1006 Fourth; 11-2-02, unlawful possession of cannabis; pleaded guilty, $500 fine plus court costs, $200 mandatory assessment, $100 lab fee

• Lawson Elkins, 19, 228 Willard Ave.; 1-3-03, domestic battery; pleaded guilty, 12 months probation, $300 fine plus court costs, $110 domestic violence fee, "men who batter" counseling

• Adam K. Guffey, 21, 139 DeBruler; 8-19-02, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; pleaded guilty, $750 fine plus court costs

• Robert W. Hankins, 28, P.O. Box 645, Tremont; 3-13-02, deceptive practices; pleaded guilty, $100 fine plus court costs, 12 months court supervision, $45.63 restitution

• Robin R. Harris, 37, 103 Nugent; 9-9-02, 9-12-02, deceptive practices; pleaded guilty, six months court supervision, $150 fine plus court costs, $35.98 restitution

• William Hodge, 22, 523 S. Tonica, Mason City; 4-19-02, theft; pleaded guilty, 36 months Department of Corrections

• Caleb B. Horton, 21, 830 N. Hamilton; 11-5-00, illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor; six months court supervision, $200 fine plus court costs

• Chris E. List, 29, 101 S. Main, Mason City; 11-10-02, aggravated battery; pleaded guilty, four years Department of Corrections

• Paul Mount Jr., 44, 929 Lake; 5-25-02, unlawful possession of cannabis; pleaded guilty, $300 fine plus court costs, $200 mandatory assessment, $100 lab fee

• Jason W. Pollock, 24, 723 Oglesby; 11-10-02, hunting without landowner's consent; pleaded guilty, $300 fine plus court costs

• Anthony P. Rahn, 34, 904 21st; 8-28-02, criminal trespass to residence; pleaded guilty, six months conditional discharge, $300 fine plus court costs

• Keith Riesselman, 30, 1304 N. Main, Mason City; 9-17-02, financial ID theft; pleaded guilty, two years Department of Corrections, $1,900.00 restitution

Marriage Licenses

(Week ending 1-10-03)

• Joseph L. Farley, Beckley, W.Va.
  Vicky L. Banister, Lincoln

• Ronald H. Eller, Lincoln
  Nancy J. Joy, Lincoln

• David J. Evans, Lincoln
  Marsha A. Valentine, Lincoln

• Chad A. Osland, Lincoln
  Brooke M. Baker, Lincoln

Dissolutions

(Week ending 1-10-03)

• Ernest L. Albertson, Lincoln
  Marilee L. Albertson, Lincoln

• Frederick H. Jason, Springfield
  Bridget H. Jason, Lincoln

• Michael J. Gallagher, Lincoln
  Stephanie A. Gallagher, Lincoln

• Curtis A. Maus, Mount Pulaski
  Melissa A. Maus, Mechanicsburg

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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