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Law Enforcement Task Force in East St. Louis Making a Difference

 

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL (KTVI - FOX2now.com) - A violent crime task force crack down is paying off in East St. Louis. The task force, called WAVE, "Working Against Violent Elements" is made up of members of the United States Marshal's Service, the East St. Louis Police Department, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department. WAVE made three more arrests Tuesday night in 800 block of 71st while coming under gunfire; just the latest arrests in a dramatic three month turn-around in East St. Louis crime since WAVE started its work.

Terror in the projects: East St. Louis residents live a life under siege

 

By CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Being a Mom is challenging enough, but imagine having to warn your kids to get away from the windows during gunfire.

Welcome to East St. Louis.

Some mothers say people are being robbed at gunpoint with regularity for $5, $10, or $20 -- basically all the money they have -- as they leave their residences to walk to a nearby grocery store.

Clusters of gun-wielding young men wearing baggy pants and oversized T-shirts and hoodies crowd the entrances to the complexes and strike fear in many of the residents.

Residents like Kimberly Rosebud say they're pleased that help has come their way.

They said the violence in the East St. Louis area had gotten out of hand and, by itself, the East St. Louis Police Department could not handle the crime.

New police team targets violent crime

 

BY CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

No boundaries in Illinois or Missouri will stop the police from finding metro-east violent crime suspects.

That was the message from Illinois State Police headquarters in Collinsville Thursday when officials touted the results of Operation WAVE, which started Nov. 16. WAVE stands for Working Against Violent Elements and local, state and federal agents are on the team.

Illinois State Police Capt. Todd Kilby said all law enforcement officials, including prosecutors in Illinois as well as Missouri, are working together to remove individuals from the streets who are committing violent crimes, selling illegal drugs and toting illegal guns. He said law enforcement officials on both sides of the river are sharing information in an attempt to make it impossible for law offenders to hide.

Three jailed after police stop yields weapons, drugs

BY CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Three people went to jail Thursday after they were stopped by police on a traffic violation at 58th and State streets and police found loaded weapons, drugs and some stolen savings bonds.

Ashley Jones, 21, of the 500 block of Williams in Shiloh, was charged with residential burglary; Dustin Middendorf, 22, of Baldwin, was charged with residential burglary; and Daniel Poole, 23, of the 600 block of State Street in Belleville, was charged with residential burglary and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

Jones was being held in the East St. Louis jail in lieu of $75,000 bail. She is scheduled to be taken to the St. Clair County Jail by Monday.

Ashley Jones - Provided/BND

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Multiple search warrants in the City of E. St. Louis

On 04-24-09 at approximately 0800 hours the Special Response Team consisting of members from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and Belleville Police Department and members of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) executed three St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit search warrants simultaneously at the following addresses in East Saint Louis Illinois:

2914 Renshaw Ave, E. St. Louis, IL

716 North 72^nd Street, E. St. Louis IL

723 North 72^nd Street, E. St. Louis IL

The occupants of each residence have been under investigation for several months for selling controlled substances. The investigations originated in Belleville and other areas of the county but it was determined the drugs were coming from E. St. Louis area. The three primary targets of the investigation all have previous State and/or Federal felony convictions for drugs and/or weapons and have been known to travel to various communities in St. Clair County to sell drugs.

“During the execution of the search warrants six people were taken into custody and controlled substances, weapons, assault rifles and bulletproof vest were located and seized at evidence. All six subjects are in custody at the St. Clair County Jail pending further investigation and warrant application at the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office” said, Sgt. William Kenny.

“The St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit has received numerous complaints from E. St. Louis residents about drug activity throughout the city. We are taking their complaints seriously and are working hard to reduce the amount of drug activity and associated violence” said, Sgt. William Kenny.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sgt. William Kenny

Drug Tactical Unit Supervisor

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department

Police use checkpoints to catch drunken motorists entering East St. Louis

BY JACQUELINE LEE AND CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Law enforcement officials made it clear to motorists early Saturday that they were not tolerating any illegal activity as they towed more than 30 cars and made about the same number of arrests at safety check points.

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department had 25 deputies and Illinois State Police had 25 troopers participate in the operation designed to curb the crime that results from intoxicated motorists driving to the nightclubs in East St. Louis after liquor establishments in St. Louis close.

Drug raid on Fairview Heights home nets 3 accused of selling pot near school

BY JENNIFER BOWEN - News-Democrat

A drug raid on a Fairview Heights home netted three people accused of selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of Pontiac School.

Law enforcement members of the Special Response Team executed a search warrant Wednesday on the home at 216 Elvira Drive. The team includes members from the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department and the Belleville Police Department.

The warrant was issued as a result of an investigation conducted by the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit.

"During the execution of the search warrant, three people were taken into custody and cannabis and weapons were located inside the residence," said Sgt. William Kenny, supervisor of the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit. "Several neighbors stood in their front yards and applauded as the suspects were escorted from the residence."

The names of the arrested individuals have not been released by police pending charges from the St. Clair County state's attorney. They remain in custody in the St. Clair County Jail.

On Feb. 27, the team raided a Cahokia home at 2020 Delores St. and arrested two people who have been under investigation for nearly a month for selling controlled substances.

"During the execution of the search warrant, two people were taken into custody and controlled substances were located inside the residence," Kenny said.

The case is under advisement at the St. Clair County state's attorney's office pending lab results of the substances found during the raid.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bowen at jbowen@bnd.com or 239-2667.

5 men sought on drug charges

Unit asks for public's help

BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN - News-Democrat

The St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit hopes the public can help locate five men who have been charged with felony drug-related offenses.

The unit has spent the past several months investigating the cases in Cahokia, Fairview Heights and Belleville, and St. Clair County prosecutors have issued charges against these people:

• Christopher J. Hook, 24, of 416 Garden St. in Cahokia, has been charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Hook's bail is set at $30,000.

• Dorian J. Brown, 35, of 617 S. Fifth St. in Brooklyn, has been charged with the unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Brown's bail is set at $15,000.

• Jamarin E. Ballard, 24, of 1706 Parklane Drive in Cahokia, has been charged with the unlawful possession of a controlled substance. His bail is set at $30,000.

None of the men are in custody.

Two men were charged and felony warrants issued last week. Deputies have been unable to locate and arrest the men because they no longer live at their last known addresses. Their whereabouts are unknown, and police are asking for anyone who has seen either of the men to call the Drug Tactical Unit. They are:

• Jonathan G. Tanner, 25, unknown address, is charged with the unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Tanner's bail is set at $15,000.

• Michael E. Olsson, 54, unknown address, is charged with the unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Olsson's bail is set at $15,000.

"The St. Clair County state's attorney's office and local law enforcement agencies are working hard to combat drug related crimes," said Sgt. William Kenny, the drug unit's supervisor. "But, as always, we need the community's assistance in reporting drug activity and locating wanted drug offenders."

Anyone with any information about any of the men can contact Kenny at 277-3505, ext. 5707. Callers may remain anonymous.

Three men sought on drug-related charges

BY JENNIFER BOWEN - News-Democrat

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department is looking for three men who have been charged with felony drug-related offenses.

The St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office issued 10 felony warrants on nine suspects based on investigations conducted by the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit over the past several months in several metro-east communities.

Six of the suspects were arrested Wednesday during a sweep by the St. Clair County Patrol Division, the Criminal Investigation Section, the Street Crimes Unit, the Drug Tactical Unit, members of the Belleville Police Department and the Illinois State Police MEGSI Unit.

Antwyne L. Warren. - Provided to BND

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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