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Crime never takes time off: Sheriff's deputies experience busy day

BY JENNIFER BOWEN - News-Democrat

Between domestic batteries, a car accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a burglary and a fight at a group home, St. Clair County deputies stayed busy Tuesday.

"The night shift was all handled by four patrol deputies," said St. Clair County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Johnson. "Two supervisors also went from call to call and one investigator was called in and stayed late. I would characterize it as an extremely busy night, I wouldn't say highly unusual, but it was a busy night."

The day began at 10:30 a.m. with a call for a domestic battery in the 3400 block of Trudy Drive in unincorporated Belleville. A woman in her 20s reported her boyfriend, who is also the father of her child, grabbed her around the neck and tried to choke her as she was trying to get away from him. She was at her parents' house when the boyfriend pushed her down the stairs outside and she slipped and fell on the ice. When the woman's mother attempted to help her daughter the man kicked her. A call to 911 was made and St. Clair County Sheriff's Deputy Desmond Williams arrived to arrest the man and put a hold on him for domestic battery.

Sheriff's officers helped rescue three from burning house in Cahokia

BY JENNIFER BOWEN - News-Democrat

Three St. Clair County Sheriff's department officers arrived on the scene of a house fire earlier this month just minutes before the fire department to find three people, including a child, trapped inside.

The officers, Sgt. Michael Hundelt, Dep. Kevin Kocurek and Dep. Justin Biggs were near 7 Violet Drive in Cahokia answering an alarm call when the fire call went out indicating there were people trapped inside the house on April 16.

When the officers arrived thick, dark smoke filled the house, escaping from doors and windows but no flames could be immediately seen.

Teen strangler Sam Shelton faces June trial for hitting cops

BY BETH HUNDSDORFER - News-Democrat

Former high school teacher Samson Shelton, who is serving prison time for trying to strangle a teenager and leaving her for dead in a Belleville park, will go on trial for assaulting police officers and medical personnel during a suicide attempt.

Samson "Sam" Shelton, 29, will stand trial on six counts of aggravated assault on June 22. Shelton attacked sheriff's deputies and paramedics who responded to his home after he overdosed on prescription medication on May 9, 2007.

"We do plan on going forward to trial," said St. Clair County State's Attorney Bob Haida.

Sam Shelton in a recent state prison photo. - Provided/BND

Under Illinois law, if Shelton is convicted, he must serve his sentence after he completes his current sentence for the attempted murder of Ashley Reeves, Haida said.

Shelton, a former driver's education teacher at Freeburg High School and professional wrestler, pleaded guilty in 2007 to the attempted murder of teenager Reeves and received a 20 year prison sentence.

Reeves, now 20, was found in the undergrowth of a Belleville park on April 29, 2006. Investigators said Shelton told them he was trying to break off a relationship with Reeves two days earlier when she became unruly and her neck popped during a struggle. He then tried to strangle her three times with a belt.

Reeves suffered a brain injury, spent two weeks in a hospital, then nearly a month in a rehabilitation center.

Shelton remains in Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg.

He is currently scheduled for release in 2024.

Belleville News Democrat