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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.

St. Clair County Jail gets new fingerprint system to prevent the wrong inmate from being released on bond

BY BETH HUNDSDORFER - News-Democrat

It all started with a T-shirt.

It ended with a $17,000 fingerprint system, added security measures for the St. Clair County Jail, an injured Texas trooper, a 30-day suspension for a corrections officer and a three-year prison sentence for the T-shirt's owner.

Darryln K. Byrd, 44, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to aiding the escape of a relative, Elijah Muhammad, who was in the St. Clair County Jail on home invasion and aggravated assault charges. Byrd gave Muhammad his "Curt Smith" T-shirt, police said, then posed as Byrd when someone posted his $100 bond and walked out of jail.

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.

Sex offender sought in St. Clair County has been arrested

News-Democrat

Thanks to his sister, a convicted sex offender sought by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department has been found and charged with failing to register as a sex offender.

The sister of Steven Wilkerson, 43, spotted an online News-Democrat story last month about police looking for Wilkerson. She told him police were looking for him and he should register, said St. Clair County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Johnson.

"He tried to register at the Monroe County Sheriff's Department and when he showed up he was in their computer as noncompliant," Johnson said. "They arrested him for us and he was transported to the St. Clair County Jail."

Steven Wilkerson. - Provided/BND

St. Clair deputies search for sex offender

News-Democrat

St. Clair County Sheriff's deputies hope the public can help them locate a convicted sex offender wanted for failing to register as a sex offender.

Steven R. Wilkerson, 43, last known to be living at 10240 N. Reader Road in Lebanon, is being sought by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department.

St. Clair County Deputy Pat Walter attempted to make contact with Wilkerson for a sex offender registration compliance check at the Lebanon address he listed as his home address, according to Capt. Steve Johnson.

Steven Wilkerson. - Provided/BND

Walter was unable to locate Wilkerson at the address and a resident at the home informed the officer that Wilkerson is no longer living at the residence and had not lived there for several months.

Wilkerson is a white male, 6 feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds. He has gray hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with any information about Wilkerson's location can call Investigator Matthew Jany at 277-3505 ext. 5712 or Sgt. Daniel Stockett at 277-3505 ext. 5734.

A second man wanted by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department for failing to register as a sex offender was arrested Thursday morning.

John D. Whitehead, 43, last known address 126 Adeline Drive Apt. 6 in Belleville, was arrested Thursday morning in Pontoon Beach.

Whitehead remains in custody in the St. Clair County Jail.

Aggravated Battery with Firearm

PRESS RELEASE

December 17^th, 2009

Aggravated Battery with Firearm

On December 15^th, 2009 at 11:50 PM the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a 38 year old subject who said he just shot someone who was trying to get into his house in the 8100 block of Collinsville Road, unincorporated Collinsville. Deputies responded and upon their arrival spoke with a Madison County Deputy who stated a 17 year old victim had been transported to the hospital who had been shot, either in the chest or back. The victim was found on Collinsville Road just west of Black Lane.

Investigators from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police Crime Scene responded to the scene. The person who shot the gun, a friend who lived at the residence, the person who was shot and his girlfriend were all interviewed during the investigation. It was determined the person was actually shot when he was about 50 to 75 yards away from the residence. He was in the process of “tagging” (spray painting) the garage with gang graffiti. He is a Latin King Gang member who lives in St. Louis, MO but frequents the State Park area. It was determined he bought three cans of spray paint in Collinsville earlier in the evening.

The person who shot the gun was taken into custody due to the difference in accounts as to what happened. The .38 caliber revolver was also recovered. The person’s FOID card was expired.

Investigators presented the case to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office and the case was taken under advisement pending further investigation. The person who was shot is in stable condition at a St. Louis Area hospital.

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

- -

Captain Steve Johnson

Chief Investigator

Criminal Investigation Section

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department

16 year old killed in traffic crash

PRESS RELEASE

December 17^th, 2009

16 year old killed in traffic crash

On December 16^th, 2009 at about 7:00 PM the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Millstadt Fire Department and Ambulance were dispatched to a vehicle crash (rollover) with people trapped and the vehicle on fire in the 4900 block of Algonquin Drive in unincorporated Millstadt. Upon their arrival they saw two witnesses who had pulled a front seat passenger from the vehicle because the vehicle was on fire. The subject was transported to Belleville St. Elizabeth’s Hospital then transferred by helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The deceased was identified as:

Christopher Akers

16 years old

Millstadt, IL 62260

The 16 year old driver and 17 year old rear seat passenger were both transported to a local hospital. Deputies were told by them they had crested the top of a hill and saw a deer standing in the roadway, attempted to avoid the deer, lost control of the vehicle and rolled over several times.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department are investigating the fatal traffic crash. Initial investigation shows alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

- -

Captain Steve Johnson

Chief Investigator

Criminal Investigation Section

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department

Bowman sentenced to death for 1977 slaying

 

FRIDAY DEC 11 2009 -- Convicted killer Gregory Bowman is escorted into a St. Louis County courtroom to await his formal sentencing for the 1977 murder of Velda Joy Rumfelt. (David Carson/P-D)

By Heather Ratcliffe

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

12/11/2009

UPDATED, 1:10 p.m. with correction.
CLAYTON -- A judge today went with the jury's recommendation and sentenced Gregory Bowman to death for the 1977 murder of Velda Joy Rumfelt in St. Louis County.

The only alternative for Circuit Judge David Lee Vincent III would have been to impose a sentence of life without parole. Judges generally follow the jury’s wishes.
Bowman declined comment before the judge read his sentence, but later objected when Vincent called the defendant “cowardly.”
“I never,” Bowman said softly interrupting the judge. “I never. I am not guilty of this.”

Female Scout leader accused of sex with young boy

Charges pending against woman

BY BETH HUNDSDORFER - News-Democrat

St. Clair County sheriff's detectives are investigating a female Boy Scout leader who is accused of molesting a teenage boy on Sunday.

"The boy's parents called us when they came home, and their child was having sexual intercourse with an older female in his bedroom," Sheriff's Capt. Steve Johnson said. "They blocked the female from leaving until deputies arrived.

Deputies arrested the woman, who is being held in the county jail. She has not been charged.

Wendy Rogers. - Provided/BND