Police Beat March and April 2019
On March 4th, an officer responded to a residence on W. Main in reference to runaway juvenile. The juvenile didn’t arrive home from school and was last seen at a friend’s house. The officer aired an attempt to locate on the juvenile, canvassed the town and checked addresses of the juvenile’s acquaintances in the area. After approximately two hours the juvenile was located and returned home. The incident was documented.
An officer responded to the Rochester Intermediate School to assist with a student who was not compliant and threatening staff members on March 5th. The officer was able to talk with the student getting her to comply and wait for a member of Screening Assessments and Support Services to come to the school and speak with the student.
An officer responded to Heathrow in reference to a domestic disturbance on March 14th. Both parties were reportedly physical with one another, although it was unclear who the aggressor was in the incident. Both parties were arrested and escorted to the Sangamon County Jail.
Brandie Hurelbrink of Alanta, GA was stopped and cited for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while registration is suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. A family member picked Hurelbrink up from the scene and the vehicle was towed by Jostes.
On March 14th, an officer conducted a stop after observing a vehicle traveling 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. The vehicle was swerving from fog line to center line crossing it several times. During the contact the officer noticed the driver’s speech was slurred and his eyes were glossy. The individual was asked to exit his vehicle, which he reportedly refused. He was advised he was being placed under arrest and removed from the vehicle. The driver refused standard field sobriety. Vito Bavetta of Mechanicsburg was arrested for allegedly Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, issued a citation for alleged speed violation and a written warning for the alleged lane violation. He was transported to the Sangamon County Jail and the vehicle was towed by Jostes.
After stopping a vehicle for speed on March 16th, the officer discovered the driver was revoked. Reginald Grayson of Springfield was arrested and cited for allegedly driving while license revoked. Grayson received a written warning for the alleged speed offense. The owner of the vehicle was notified and picked up the vehicle from the scene.
A hit and run accident was brought to the attention of an officer on March 16th. A vehicle parked on S. Walnut had been struck damaging its driver’s side mirror. The incident was believed to have occurred the night prior. Blood was also discovered on the mirror of the vehicle but a check revealed no injuries reported to the hospitals that could have been associated with the incident. Later that same day, the individual responsible for the accident contacted the victim and paid restitution for the damage. The individual had suffered a minor cut from the mirror when trying to pick it up from the roadway. The incident was documented.
On March 17th, an officer observed a vehicle swerving, braking for green lights and driving below the posted speed limit. The officer initiated a stop on the vehicle and administered the Standard Field Sobriety Test. Several signs of impairment were observed. A breath sample indicated a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08%. It was later revealed that medication could have been a contributing factor in the driver’s impairment. Brenda Caillier of Taylorville was arrested and cited for the alleged improper lane use, driving under the influence of alcohol. The vehicle was towed by Jostes.
Kayla Waldrop of Taylorville was stopped for driving while license revoked on March 17th. Due to extenuating circumstances on the scene, Waldrop was issued a notice to appear for the alleged violation and was allowed to call for a ride. One of the individuals who arrived on scene to pick up Waldrop was discovered to have a valid warrant. Bradlee Melton of Edinburg was arrested for the warrant out of Macon County for failure to appear for retail theft charges. Melton was transported to the Sangamon County Jail.
On March 18th, Ethan Peden of Taylorville was stopped and cited for allegedly having no valid driver’s license, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Peden was arrested on a Christian County Warrant and transported to the Sangamon County Jail. Shaners towed the vehicle.
Jessica Willings of Springfield was stopped and cited for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while registration is suspended on March 18th. A valid driver picked up Willings and her passenger. By-Rite towed the vehicle.
On March 21st, an officer assisted the Rochester Junior High School with an incident in which several students used a Vape pen containing what was later revealed to be THC. Three of the students were transported by ambulance to the hospital. All were later released. A report was forwarded to Juvenile Probation.
Dwayne Hull of Taylorville was stopped and was cited for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while registration is suspended on Saturday, March 23rd. His vehicle was towed by Jostes on April 1st.
March 23rd and 24th, officers were alerted about an individual walking in the middle of traffic. Officers arrived on scene and were able to detain the individual until he could be transported to the hospital for evaluation.
An officer conducted a stop on a vehicle on March 25th after observing it traveling 75 mph in a 55 mph zone. During the stop, it was revealed the driver’s license was suspended. Jamie Debrun of Taylorville was cited for allegedly driving while license suspended and speeding. Debrun was picked up by a valid driver.
A report was made on March 26th after being notified by a youth peewee soccer coordinator that someone had driven through the soccer fields leaving several ruts of varying depths. The soccer players had to temporarily move fields until public works could fix the damage.
On March 31st, an officer was notified that someone had struck a light pole in the Oak Mill Estates subdivision and then had left. The officer arrived on scene and noticed the light pole was leaning and broken at the top. There were fresh tire tracks in the mud that led to a residence. The officer eventually was able to make contact with the resident who denied striking the pole. The resident did show the officer a vehicle which had substantial damage consistent with what would occur if it had struck a pole. The resident was cited for allegedly failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to report an accident.
An officer initiated a stop on a vehicle that didn’t have its headlights on. The driver appeared to have slurred speech and jittery and jerky movements. There was an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. The Standard Field Sobriety Tests were administered and several signs of impairment were observed. The driver refused to provide a breath sample. On March 31st, Timothy Worthington of Springfield was arrested and cited for allegedly driving without headlights, obstructed registration, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Worthington was transported to the Sangamon County Jail. His vehicle was towed by Jostes.
On April 3rd, an officer initiated a stop on a vehicle for a speeding violation. It was discovered the driver’s license was suspended. John Schnell of Springfield was issued a citation for allegedly driving while license suspended and a written warning for the alleged speed.
Officers were notified of an alleged violation of orders of protection that occurred at the Rochester High School on April 5th. After reviewing video footage and receiving written statements from the victim and a witness, the individual who allegedly violated the orders was arrested and transported to the Sangamon County Jail.
An officer assisted Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office by responding to a vehicle fire on April 6th that occurred on Cardinal Hill Rd. An individual was on his way home when he though he hit something but was unsure as to what. His family member following behind him noticed sparks and smoke coming out from under his vehicle. He was able to pull over and exit the vehicle. The vehicle was fully engulfed by the time emergency personnel arrived on scene. Rochester Fire Department extinguished the flames and Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office handled the report.
On April 10th, two students from the junior high school were treated by EMS and then taken to the hospital after using a Dab/Vape pen provided to them by a peer. The Dab/Vape pen was tested and had a positive result for THC. A report was generated and forwarded to Juvenile Probation.
Dwight Roemer of Assumption was stopped and cited for allegedly driving while license suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle on April 15th. Roemer was also arrested for a warrant and taken to the Sangamon County Jail. Jostes towed the vehicle.
After observing a vehicle travelling 74 mph in a 55 mph zone on April 16th, it was discovered the driver’s license was suspended. Samuel Cooper of Springfield was issued citations for allegedly driving while license suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. A valid driver transported the Copper and his vehicle from the scene.
Joseph Dudra of Pana was stopped and cited for allegedly driving while license suspended on April 19th. A valid driver transported Dudra and his vehicle from the scene.
A concerned citizen contacted the police department in regards to a vehicle headed into Rochester that was seen swerving all over the roadway on April 26th. The officer observed the vehicle swerving and initiated a stop. During the stop, it was discovered there were several medical issues that could be responsible for the driver’s behavior. The driver was cited for allegedly driving on a cancelled license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Transportation was arranged for the individual and the vehicle was towed by Jostes.
Criminal Reports
Battery – 1; Child Pornography – 1; Criminal Damage to Property – 1; Domestic Battery – 2; Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – 7; Harassment by Telephone – 2; Identity Theft – 1; Interfering with Judicial Procedures – 1; Intoxicating Compounds – 1; Reckless Conduct – 1; Runaway – 2; Theft $500 and Over – 1; Theft Under $500 – 1; Unlawful Use of a Weapon – 1; Violation of Orders of Protection – 2; Warrants – 3
Traffic Reports
Citations Issued – 224; Warnings Issued – 386; Accident Investigations – 9; Hit and Run – 1; No Driver’s License – 5; Suspended / Revoked Drivers License – 11;
Calls for Service
Animal Related Calls – 10; Assist Fire Department – 45; Assist Other Governmental Agency – 8; Assist Other Police Agency – 43; Assist Schools – 28; Building / Business Checks – 35; Burglar Alarms – 8; Civil/Citizen Assists – 27; Disturbance – 8; Domestic Trouble – 6; Lost or Recovered Articles – 2; Loud Noise Complaint – 2; Mental Cases – 11; Mischievous Conduct – 2; Motorist Assists – 21; Neighborhood Trouble – 1; Ordinance Violations – 3; Suspicious Person / Vehicle – 24; Vacation Watches – 171