The disturbing 2009 pattern of “cluster killings”—when more than one officer is shot and killed in the same incident—continued during the first half of 2010. Six officers have been gunned down in three separate incidents this year:
On February 25, Fresno County (CA) Deputy Sheriff Joel 
Wahlenmaier and Reedley (CA) Police Officer Javier Bejar were shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a suspected arsonist. Deputy Wahlenmaier died that day; Officer Bejar succumbed to his injuries on March 1. 
On May 20, Sergeant Brandon Paudert and Officer B
ill Evans of the West Memphis (AR) Police Department were gunned down following a traffic stop by two suspects armed with AK-47s.
On June 29, Tampa (FL) Police Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey
Kocab were shot at close range following a traffic stop by a suspect with an outstanding warrant.
In 2009, 15 officers were murdered in five multiple-fatality shootings.
In 2009, 15 officers were murdered in five multiple-fatality shootings.
A Belleville woman claiming to be a federal agent has been charged with trespassing on state property after she refused to allow bailiffs to search her purse.
Latrece A. Davis, 37, of 15 N. 98th St., has been charged with criminal trespass to state supported property and resisting arrest.
According to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department police report, Davis was in the St. Clair County Building near the first floor metal detector and yelling at Bailiff Tammy Walters at 12:27 p.m. last Wednesday.
AA001108
To get through the metal detector, pockets and purses are searched by bailiffs before entry into the first floor courtrooms is permitted. Davis did not want her purse searched, according to the report, and was informed that to enter the hallway she must submit to a search. Instead of submitting to a search, Davis wanted the bailiff to just pass her purse through the metal detector. Instead of complying, Davis reportedly walked through the metal detector with her purse in hand and headed down the courthouse hallway allegedly to pay a fine.
She set off an alert on the metal detector and when Bailiff James Hendricks attempted to arrest her she refused and told the bailiff he couldn't arrest her because she was a "fed" and above the bailiff's authority.
After she was handcuffed she was asked to identify herself and refused to comply, instead telling Hendricks that she was a federal agent and didn't answer to him.
Her purse was searched and no illegal weapons or items were found.
While she was being booked she continued to insist Hendricks be arrested for assaulting her and pushing her.
St. Clair County Associate Judge Vincent Lopinot arraigned Davis on the charges and set her bail at $3,000.
Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2010/07/21/1336263/woman-arrested-after-refusing.html#ixzz0uM4ZKRZe
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Friday, Sep. 11 2009
BELLEVILLE -- St. Clair County Sheriff Mearl Justus said on Friday a jail correctional officer will be suspended without pay for 30 days following the bungled release of an inmate.
Elijah Muhammad, 60, posed as another inmate who was being released on bondlast month, and was allowed to walk out of the jail. He was later nabbed in Dallas when he tried to get a drivers license. Justus said a jail correctional officer didn’t do his job and will be punished by going a month without pay. However, Justus declined to release the name of the employee or his salary.
"The officer didn’t follow procedure," Justus said. "He didn’t do the normal checks."
Continue reading "Jailer suspended after bungled inmate release" »
St. Clair County Jail shut down for one day for massive jail shakedown.
On 12-18-08 at about 8:00 AM the St. Clair County Jail was in complete lockdown. This was a planned detail by Sheriff Mearl Justus to continuously ensure the safety of Officers, employees and detainees within the jail. “We conduct these shakedowns on a regular basis but at irregular intervals to keep inmates off guard,” said Sheriff Mearl Justus.
“This was one of the larger searches conducted at the St. Clair County Jail because we called on help from several other law enforcement agencies,” said Sgt. Thomas Trice, the detail supervisor. The following agencies sent law enforcement officers as well as police K-9s to assist with the search:
Belleville PD
Cahokia PD
Collinsville PD
Fairview Heights PD
Illinois State Police
Metro East Auto Task Force
United States Marshals Service
In all there were about 60 Officers (including 8 K-9s) from the Sheriff’s Department and these other agencies that searched over 300 inmates, cells and areas of the jail. No Officers were injured during the massive inmate movement and there was only one use of force incident. One inmate refused movement for a search and received minor injuring while resisting Officers.
No illegal items, per Illinois law, were discovered however a few items of jail contraband (per jail rules) were found including two “jail made” shanks and “jail made” tattoo kits. All items were confiscated and those inmates are facing jail sanctions.
“The two shanks found show the dangers that Correctional Officers face everyday. The lack of finding other significant items, in a jail as large as this, demonstrates the tremendous job Officers at the St. Clair County Jail do everyday,” said Sgt. Thomas Trice.
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Captain Steve Johnson
Chief Investigator
Criminal Investigation Section
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, 618-277-3505 x5715
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.
