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Street Crimes Unit seizes illegal weapon

 

On January 23, 2008, at 2200 hours, Sgt. Trice, the Supervisor of the Street Crimes Unit conducted a traffic stop on Kenny Douglas, black male, date of birth, 03-14-72. Douglas passed Sgt. Trice's marked squad car. Douglas was traveling 95 mph. After Douglas was arrested for Reckless Driving a fully loaded 9mm handgun was found in his vehicle, inside of his brief case along  with a loaded high capacity magazine. Douglas was charged with Unlawful Use of Weapon and his bond was set at $25,000.

Sheriff's Environmental Specialist Unit

(See more pictures here.)

The Sheriff’s Environmental Specialist Unit (ESU) is in full swing again pursuing environmental crimes including dumping of trash and tires, open burning, junk and debris violations, air pollution and special waste violations. The unit is supervised by Sgt. Dan Stockett and consists of five Deputies (one full time and four assigned to shifts). Although several arrests have been made since the beginning of the year a sample of a few days work is summarized below:

· 01-24-08, 1130 hours – Deputy Dale Sauget was conducting surveillance near Route 13 and Route 156, New Athens. The Sheriff’s Department had received complains that trash trucks were spilling their load (trash) while driving from St. Louis to a landfill in Marissa (Cottonwood Hills Landfill). This was confirmed by the large amount of trash on the side of the roadways heading that direction. Deputy Sauget saw a 2007 Grey KW Semi-truck spilling its load (trash and debris made up of paper and plastics) all over the roadway. The tarp was not secured to the truck. Deputy Sauget stopped the truck owned by KR Drenth Trucking which was driving out of St. Louis, MO. He learned the trash was coming from St. Louis to the landfill near Marissa. The driver was identified as Anthony T. Davis white male 09-05-75 from Little Rock, AR. The driver was issued a traffic citation for spilling load on a highway and given a court date of 03-13-08

· 01-26-08, 1042 hours – Deputy John Pegg was patrolling State Park (unincorporated Collinsville) and noticed a large amount of trash in a yard at 211 Joe Street, Collinsville. He saw a large amount of car parts, multiple tires without rims strewn all over the yard, old wood piled up, a car engine on the ground, boat motors, compressed tanks and other miscellaneous trash and debris. Deputy Pegg made contact with the homeowner, Georgia R. Whitton white female 05-10-45. She stated her son had been working on cleaning the trash and debris up for several years. Deputy Pegg issued her a citation for open dumping violations. She was given a court date of 03-19-08. Several other investigations of dumping were opened up on Joe Street as a result of this investigation.

· 01-27-08, 0906 hours – Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham responded to 2730 Nature Way, Lenzburg. They had previously (01-09-08) contacted the owner and had warned him to clean up a large pile of garbage. The large pile had not been cleaned up and in fact an additional large pile of tires was located behind a shed. A derelict vehicle was also tagged with a 7 day notice of tow. The homeowner was not present but the Deputies signed a complaint again him (RobeRoute D. Casey white male 49 y/o) for his arrest for open dumping.

· 01-27-08, 1024 hours - Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham were on a traffic stop in the 5900 block of Route. 159, Smithton when they observed large black smoke coming from a farm field. They searched the area and found the smoke coming from 5414 Brick School Road, New Athens. They made contact with Ryan C. Grohmann (white male 01-02-83 3051 Floraville Rd., Smithton) who had started the fire. He said he was burning old barn wood and trees. Upon inspecting the fire, Deputies also found a refrigerator and assorted metal in the fire. Deputies issued him citations for open burning and air pollution violations. He was given a court date of 03-19-08.

· 01-27-08, 1147 hours - Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham were patrolling and saw a red pick up with a large amount of tree branches in the bed of the truck. They followed the vehicle to check and see if the driver was going to illegally dump the branches. The truck pulled up to 4700 Knab Road, Smithton in the front yard of a residence. The Deputies could see a large couch and a pile of furniture in the front yard. They set up a vantage point of surveillance and saw the subject light the tree branches, couch and furniture on fire causing a large cloud of black smoke. They approached the subject and he was identified as Anthony J. Watchel white male 04-16-70, 512 North Lincoln, Smithton. Smithton Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the fire. The suspect was issued citations for open burning and air pollution violations. He was given a court date of 03-19-08.

· 01-27-08, 1239 hours - Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham were patrolling near the area of Schiermeier Rd and Country Side lane, Freeburg. They observed a large black smoke cloud coming from the west side of Route. 159. Upon searching the area they located the cause of the smoke at 5455 W. Prairie Rd, Belleville. They made contact with Gene L. Willmann white male 02-05-39 same address. He stated he was only burning some old trees. Deputies inspected the fire and found lawn furniture, mattresses, vinyl siding, insulation and trailer skiRouteing. The fire was extinguished. The suspect was issued citations for open burning and air pollution violations. He was given a court date of 03-19-08.

Capt. Steve Johnson said “The Sheriff’s ESU is working hard to arrest and prosecute people who dump junk and debris and hurt our environment. Anyone who is aware of such violators is asked to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.”

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Captain Steve Johnson

Chief Investigator

Street Crimes Unit seizes large amount of crack cocaine

On January 15, 2006 the Street Crimes Unit arrested Kevin Patterson. Patterson was charged with possession with intent to deliver and possession of crack cocaine, a class X felony. His bond was set at $50,000.00.

Street Crimes Unit makes marijuana arrest

On January 16, 2008, Deputies Tom Peters and Dan Hill, members of the Street Crimes Unit, stopped Christopher Clark in unincorporated St. Clair County near Shiloh, Illinois. After the arrest of Mr. Clark for not having a valid DL they found a large bag of cannabis. Clark's bond was set at $1000.00.

Vehicle driven into house, deceased person found inside.

On 01-05-08 at 10:50 PM Deputy Chuck Binnion was dispatched to 2404 Antiquity Drive near unincorporated Belleville. A 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe had crashed into the residence and a deceased person was found inside the residence. Sheriff’s Investigator Desmond Williams, Inv. Sgt. Dan Stockett, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Technician Mike Lewis and Deputy Coroner Ace Hart all responded to the scene. The following information was discovered during the investigation:

• The female driver of the vehicle was 15 years old and did not possess a valid driver’s license. A 16 year old female was a passenger. Neither was hurt in the crash. The vehicle also crashed into a neighbor’s 1992 Chevrolet Corsica prior to driving into the residence. The juveniles were transported to the Sheriff’s Department, questioned and then released to parents. Parents were not aware the 15 year old had taken the vehicle.
• The female driver will be charged with the following: Driving without a valid driver’s license, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and operation of a vehicle without insurance.
• The person found deceased in the residence was:

Ingrid K. Jordan

white female, 58 years old

same address

• Jordan was found deceased on her living room couch. The investigation has shown the traffic crash into her residence did not cause her death. Through the coroner’s office, crime scene and the subsequent autopsy it was determined she had been deceased prior to the crash. The investigation has not shown any foul play with her death.
• Investigator Desmond Williams is handling the investigation (618-277-3505 x5309)

Person found deceased under vehicle at junk yard

Person found deceased under vehicle at junk yard

On 12-28-07 at about 1100 hours Deputy Brian Cregger was dispatched to Paule’s junkyard at 1749 Freeburg Ave., near unincorporated Belleville in reference to a found body. Upon his arrival he spoke to employees at the junkyard. They stated on 12-27-07 at 0900 hours they saw a subject’s vehicle, who they knew, parked on their lot. They looked for him but could not find him. The next day (12-28-07) they contacted his boss and he stated no one had seen him. They conducted an extensive search of their junk yard and found a subject lying underneath a Honda Accord vehicle and he was obviously deceased. The Sheriff’s Department was contacted. A backhoe was used to lift the vehicle off of the subject. He was later identified as:

Gregory A. Nickens

white male, 47 years old 

5824 Schmidt Lane

Belleville, IL.

He appeared to have died from the blunt force trauma of the vehicle falling onto his chest. The following items were discovered at the scene:

• He did not have authorization to be in the junkyard and underneath a vehicle. Due to the make up of the body it was believed he had been under the vehicle for at least over a day. It appeared a vehicle jack had slipped out and the vehicle fell on top of him.
• He was wearing coveralls with clothing underneath.
• A flashlight, cutting tools, other small hand tools, and vehicle jack were all located next to him.
• The catalytic converter had cut marks on it next to where he was found.

The St. Clair County Coroner’s Office responded and pronounced him deceased. Although the investigation so far has not found anything suspicious towards the cause of death, we are asking if anyone has any information about Gregory Nickens’ whereabouts on the night of 12-26-07 or morning of 12-27-07 to contact Inv. Matt Dobler at 277-3505 x5718.