Following his involvement in an off-duty physical altercation at a Taylorville bar Saturday, Taylorville Police Department Officer Chase Dickey has been placed on unpaid administrative leave. Wednesday, August 21, 2019
An off-duty Taylorville Police Officer was involved in a physical altercation Saturday night or early Sunday morning at a Taylorville bar and then a private residence.
Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler confirmed Tuesday that Officer Chase Dickey was involved in the incident. Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler confirmed that there was an active shooter scare at TJHS Friday night. Wheeler identified the event as an extra curricular activity, but could not confirm its nature. Saturday, August 17, 2019
On Wednesday, August 14 at 8:45 pm, Pana Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of North State St. reference a violation of an order of protection on an adult male. Officers responded and discovered property damage and evidence to establish probable cause to arrest the adult male for the violation but the subject had fled the area.
Officers located the adult male at a separate location and requested he exit his residence while speaking to him through an open window. The male armed himself with a knife, barricaded himself inside his residence, and initiated a standoff with officers who were not aware if additional weapons were inside. Additional Pana Officers, along with the Christian County Sheriff's Office and Central Illinois Enforcement Group (CIEG) responded and secured a perimeter around the residence; Pana Ambulance and EMS were called to a staging area nearby. Officers negotiated with the subject for several hours, including utilizing family members, but gained no cooperation. A decision was made to remove uniformed officers and squad cars from the area to reduce pressure on the subject while leaving covert surveillance on the property. The residence was under surveillance for nearly 12 hours waiting for the subject to exit and be taken into custody for the criminal offense and prevent additional court-ordered violations and possible injury against the protected victim. Saturday, August 17, 2019
After a search that spanned three days, the Taylorville Police Department finally apprehended James R. Coughlan Friday afternoon at approximately 2:15 p.m.
Coughlan fled police Wednesday night during a search warrant at a home at 716 West Poplar Street. On Thursday, authorities chased him into a corn field near Don Bragg Sports Complex before he was able to again evade what was an extensive search party at that time. Saturday, August 17, 2019
Residents on the west end of Taylorville may have been alarmed to see a large contingent of officers combing through their neighborhoods Thursday night.
Dozens of officers, a fleet of about twelve to fifteen squad cars from four departments, and the Taylorville Fire Department were avidly searching for James R. Coughlan, 34, Taylorville, whose whereabouts remain unknown as of approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. Friday, August 16, 2019
Theodore M. Fleming, Jr., 37, of Taylorville, was sentenced to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a hearing in Christian County Court this morning.
Judge Christopher M. Matoush accepted the negotiated plea involving a June, 2018 home invasion in the 200 block of South Clark St. in Pana. Friday, August 16, 2019
On August 10, 2019 at approximately 1 p.m. Taylorville Police Department executed a search warrant at 1012 W. Franklin Street, Taylorville, Ill.
Members of the newly created Community Action Team (CAT), a group of officers that follow up on citizens complaints, were able to obtain a warrant after an investigation. Monday, August 12, 2019
On August 10, 2019 at approximately 5:30 p.m., 911 received a call of an unresponsive 45 year old male at his residence in the 700 Block of Cleveland St., Taylorville. Monday, August 12, 2019
Following an hour long sentencing hearing, Brandon J. Emery, 28, of Taylorville, was sentenced to a total of 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by Christian County Resident Judge Brad Paisley. The sentence was handed down Thursday afternoon in Christian County Court.
Emery had pled guilty in a negotiated plea back in June. The only stipulation was his sentence(s) would not exceed 13 years. Friday, August 9, 2019
Published court appearances reflect the daily 10:00 a.m. criminal call and do not necessarily account for all felony proceedings heard that day. Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Amanda Ade-Harlow presided over the following cases on Aug. 2, 2019: Friday, August 2, 2019
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation extending tax credits for film production through 2026, a move he says will attract more industry jobs to the state. Friday, August 2, 2019
On July 22, 2019, at approximately 8:00 P.M., members of the Taylorville Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, and the Central Illinois Enforcement Group executed a state authorized search warrant at 608 S. Arlington, Taylorville, the residence of William Scott Single. Tuesday, July 23, 2019
A forty-year-old Taylorville man suspected of shooting two people in a Tuesday evening incident at 1259 N. 1250 East Road in Taylorville has been charged with first degree attempted murder.
If convicted, Nathan L. Howell could face a sentence of six years to life in prison stemming from the two charges filed against him, which include first degree attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm. “The law says that you can charge attempted murder and prove attempted murder if you can prove any intent to kill. A lot of people think first degree is premeditation; there doesn’t have to be any premeditation,” Christian County State’s Attorney Mike Havera said of the charge. Thursday, July 18, 2019
Two people are in a Springfield hospital after both suffered gunshot wounds in a Taylorville shooting Tuesday night.
The Christian County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Illinois State Police, are investigating the shooting that occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. near a residence located at 1259 N. 1250 East Road in Taylorville, just south of the Illinois Route 48 and Nokomis blacktop intersection. Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Police have identified the man, on parole from the Illinois Department of Correction, who led them on a chase through at least three counties on Monday. Deven A. Barger, 24, of Watson, was taken into custody on Lincoln Trail in Taylorville without incident. He is a the suspect in the murder of Samantha Cushing, 22, of Shelbyville, and her unborn child. Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Taylorville Police Department reported today, Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at approximately 6:41 a.m. 911 dispatched Taylorville Fire Department along with Dunn’s Ambulance to the 600 Block of West First Street for a report of an unresponsive female laying just off the roadway. Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Judge Christopher Matoush found probable cause during a nearly hour-long preliminary hearing charging Todd England, 45, of Taylorville, with 12 counts of child pornography.
Christian County State’s Attorney Michael Havera presented the court with six exhibits of the videos which were found on the defendants computer following the execution of a search warrant. Taylorville police had been alerted by Naperville police of the downloading of possible child pornography. The TPD officer testifying said the images were obtained through a “peer to peer” download, in which computer users can share files with other users. He said there is a disclosure when the software is downloaded this can be a result. Tuesday, July 2, 2019
The murder trial for Quinton L. Morrissey, 20, of Pana has been set to begin on Sept. 30, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. in Christian County Court. Morrissey is accused of the May 30, 2017 murder of Stephen L. Presnell, 59, at a cabin on Lake Pana. The defendant has been incarcerated since, being held on $500,000 bond. Thursday, June 27, 2019
It took jurors a little more than an hour to find Brad W. Baker, 63, of Louisville, guilty of one count of driving under the influence of alcohol during trial on Monday in Christian County Court. Sentencing in the case will be before Christian County Resident Judge Brad Paisley on Aug. 19, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Owen A. Herbord, 20, of Rosamond, was sentenced to six months in the Christian County Jail in connection with a 2018 fatal auto accident on Illinois Route 16 just east Rosamond by Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Douglas L. Jarman under the terms of a negotiated plea reached on Monday. Herbord pled guilty to Count III in the felony information, a Class 3 felony, reckless homicide with a motor vehicle.
He will begin to serve his sentence on Dec. 1, 2019. Monday, June 17, 2019
Published court appearances reflect the daily 10:00 a.m. criminal call and do not necessarily account for all felony proceedings heard that day. Christian County Resident Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Brad Paisley presided over the following cases on June 14, 2019: Friday, June 14, 2019
Brandon J. Emery, 27, of Taylorville pled guilty in three Christian County felony cases on Monday and faces sentencing in August. The charges stem from incidents Sept. 20, 2018, around the Taylorville Courthouse square when Emery was accused of breaking into the Christian County Courthouse, then going outside and hitting a pair of Taylorville police officers, all while wearing no clothes. Monday, June 10, 2019
Taylorville resident Bradley S. Jenkins, 30, was in St. Louis Municipal Court Friday afternoon where a motion to lower his bail was denied by Judge Madeline Connolly. It remained at $100,000 cash only. Saturday, June 8, 2019
Joshua M. DeClerck, 36, of Pawnee, was sentenced in two cases in Christian County Court Thursday afternoon before Judge Brad Paisley.
He was sentenced to one year in the Illinois Department of Corrections for aggravated fleeing from a peace officer, followed by one year of mandatory supervised release. He was given credit for 107 days already served. Friday, June 7, 2019
Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp says his office is investigating a break-in that occurred early Tuesday morning, around 4:00 a.m., at the Christian County Animal Control facility located at 300 South Baughman Road in Taylorville. Thursday, June 6, 2019
Bradley S. Jenkins, 30, of Taylorville, appeared before Judge Thomas A. McCarthy in St. Louis Circuit Court today for initial arraignment. No results of the hearing were available at presstime today. He is currently charged with felony domestic assault in the third degree in connection with the death of his wife, Allissa L. Martin, 27, in St. Louis late Saturday or early Sunday morning. Jenkins is being held on $100,000 cash only bond in St. Louis City Jail. Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Published court appearances reflect the daily 10:00 a.m. criminal call and do not necessarily account for all felony proceedings heard that day. Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Christopher Matoush presided over the following cases on May 31, 2019: Friday, May 31, 2019
