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Residents, police meet about rural thefts

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

Rural areas near Freeburg are hit

BY JACQUELINE LEE - News-Democrat

About 60 residents met with St. Clair County sheriff's personnel and city officials at Freeburg Township Hall on Tuesday night to discuss residential burglaries of guns, jewelry and electronics in rural areas in the past two months.

Capt. Steven Johnson told residents what deputies are doing to increase security in the area, and asked residents to report suspicious activity right away.

Diann Roth, who lives off Liebig School Road near Mascoutah, said she feels reassured after hearing what deputies are doing to address the crime. "At least I know they're out there," Roth said. "But unless the cops are right there when it happens, it's going to take all of us neighbors to stop them."

Pursuit Ends in Suspect Dying in Crash

PRESS RELEASE

October 14^th, 2008

Pursuit Ends in Suspect Dying in Crash

On 10-14-08 at 2:20 AM a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy saw a vehicle (2002 Chrysler) disobey a stop sign at 15^th at Lynch, E. St. Louis. The Deputy stopped the vehicle for the violation. When the Deputy approached the vehicle the driver placed the vehicle in reverse and attempted to run over the Deputy. The Deputy leaped out of the way, barely avoiding being ran over. The driver then put the vehicle in forward and sped away very fast. The Deputy ran to his car and pursued the suspect vehicle and called on the police radio for other units. The suspect vehicle made several evasive turns but lost control and skidded over a curb near 15^th and Summit. Deputies started to approach the vehicle but the driver put the vehicle in reverse and rammed his car into a Sheriff’s Squad car. The suspect vehicle then left the scene again. Deputies continued to try and stop the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle continued fleeing from Deputies and Deputies began to loose sight of the vehicle. Due to the suspect’s dangerous driving Deputies backed away and temporarily lost sight of the vehicle. Deputies saw the vehicle again as it became involved in a traffic crash in the 1900/2000 block of St. Louis Ave, E. St. Louis at railroad tracks. Deputies ran up to the driver but found him pinned inside the vehicle. EMS and the Fire Department were dispatched. The suspect was later transported to Kenneth Hall Hospital and later pronounced deceased.

To ensure a fair and impartial investigation, Illinois State Police Accident Reconstructionist were called to the scene to handle the investigation. They found in the suspect vehicle a stolen .380 semi-automatic pistol, crack cocaine, marijuana and Ecstasy pills. The deceased suspect also has a substantial drug criminal history and a suspended driver’s license.

The total incident is still under investigation by Sheriff’s Investigators and Illinois State Police. The deceased suspect’s name is not being released at this time to ensure family members have been contacted first. Please contact the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office when that information is released.

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Captain Steve Johnson

Chief Investigator

Criminal Investigation Section

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department

618-277-3505 x5715

Granite man caught with expired MetroLink pass, resists arrest

Thursday, Oct. 02, 2008

News-Democrat

A Granite City man tried to use an expired MetroLink ticket to ride the rails and when he was caught, he fought with officers and ended up taking a trip to the emergency room.

Jonathan E. Nelson, 19, of 2515 Lincoln Ave., was arrested Sept. 22 and charged with theft of services and resisting arrest a St. Clair County Sheriff's deputy and an East St. Louis police officer working security detail at the 5th and Missouri MetroLink station noticed Nelson was trying to ride the train using an expired ticket.

When St. Clair County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Davis confronted Nelson about the expired ticket, Nelson admitted he found it on the ground, according to the police report. When officers asked him for identification Nelson became "loud and abusive" and told officers he felt he was being harassed. He then gave officers a false name.

Jonathan E. Nelson

According to the police report Nelson moved towards East St. Louis Police Officer Orlando Ward and Ward grabbed him. Nelson fought Ward and escaped.

He ran towards the parking lot and tripped over wire fencing near the entrance of the MetroLink platform. When he tripped, Nelson went down and smacked his head into the pavement and cut his forehead.

Nelson was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville where he refused medical treatment from the emergency room physician.

$1,000 reward offered in Glen Addie attack; victim was shot 9 times

Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2008

BY JENNIFER BOWEN - News-Democrat

Investigators with the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department are asking for help from the public to identify the men who shot another man Saturday night near Belleville.

The shooting happened around 9:40 p.m. at the corner of Sierra Drive and Country Meadow in the former Glen Addie subdivision.

The name of the victim has not yet been released by police, but he lives in the neighborhood where the shooting took place. The victim, a 33-year old white man, was shot nine times, said St. Clair County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Johnson. The man was taken to a St. Louis hospital, where he remains. The victim has not been able to speak to police but has been able to communicate by writing.

The victim had just gotten off a Metro bus and was walking home when the suspects attempted to rob him and then shot him.

One suspect is described as a black man with a stocky build and broad shoulders. He was wearing a black jacket with red and white square designs at the time of the shooting, according to witnesses. A second black man accompanied the shooter, and both ran south toward Lebanon Avenue after the shooting.

Witnesses have told police they heard several shots fired prior to the shooting. Those shots were heard near the Yorktown Golf Course, Johnson said.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call Investigator Desmond Williams at 277-3505, Ext. 5309, Sgt. Daniel Stockett at 277-3505, Ext. 5734, or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

A reward of up to $1,000 is available for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the individuals involved in the shooting.

Suspect charged in O'Fallon strangulation; bail set at $1 million

Friday, Sep. 26, 2008

Police on Thursday charged Santoin D. Russell, of unincorporated O'Fallon, with first-degree murder in connection with the strangulation of Blake M. Harvey, of unincorporated O'Fallon.

The Major Case Squad made the announcement at the St. Clair County Jail.

Russell, 23, has been held at the St. Clair County Jail since Wednesday, after police found him about 1 a.m. at his house in the 700 block of Forest Green Drive. His bail has been set at $1 million.

Russell and the victim were "mere acquaintances" said Granite City Police Maj. Jeff Connor, who is also the deputy commander of the Major Case Squad.

Connor said the victim died sometime between the evening of Sept. 19 and the morning of Sept. 20.

Russell was at the house with the victim's consent, and there was an altercation between the two. Connor would not comment on whether a weapon or drugs were found at the house, and said investigators will not comment on a motive.

"We don't want to release everything with the evidence that we have," Connor said.

Harvey, 46, was found dead about 9:30 a.m. Sunday in his home at 621 E. State St. near O'Fallon, where he lived alone.

Police investigated about 80 leads that they received with the public's help, according to Madison County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Dixon, who is working with the squad.

About 16 to 20 detectives worked on the case at any given time, Dixon said, and they were "working a lot of hours, putting in a diligent effort."

Harvey spent three stints in state prison for drug-related charges.

Harvey is survived by his brothers, Ricky Harvey and Frederick Singleton; his biological daughter, Candace Harvey; his son by marriage, Jonathan Johnson; and his ex-wife Penny Harvey.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the L. King Funeral Chapel, 7711 W. Main St. in Belleville.

Additional visitation hours will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday before funeral services at noon at the Christ the King Apostolic Church, 6920 Old Collinsville Road in O'Fallon.

Contact reporter Jacqueline Lee at jlee@bnd.com or 239-2655