Connect with us

Breaking News

Two men in custody after assault, attempted robbery in Gillespie

Published

on

Police interview the victims and witnesses at the scene of the incident Monday evening.

Police interview the victims and witnesses at the scene of the incident Monday evening.

There was a heavy police presence in Gillespie on Monday evening that continued into the early morning hours on Tuesday after two males reportedly armed with weapons attempted to assault and rob three male subjects.

The incident happened in the 1100 block of Madison Street in Gillespie around 8:15 p.m. and led to a manhunt that continued into the morning hours on Tuesday.

Gillespie Police Chief Jared DePoppe told The BenGil Post that officers were dispatched after a caller said armed men assaulted a group of males. Upon arrival, Gillespie Police called for additional assistance and a K9 unit after the two armed subjects fled the scene.

The three male victims, whose identities were not released by police at the time of publication, were reportedly assaulted and attempted to be robbed, but DePoppe said only one male suffered minor injuries and the other two males appear to not have sustained any injuries. The only item stolen from the victims was a cell phone.

Police cleared the scene on Madison Street around 10:00 p.m. and continued searching the area for a sign of the two subjects described on the police radio as young adult black males with one wearing a dark colored sweatshirt and the other wearing a red colored sweatshirt. The identities of the suspects believed to be involved were also withheld by police at the time of publication.

Authorities discovered the suspects’ vehicle a few blocks from the scene approximately around 10:30 p.m. and dispatched Quality Motors to remove it. The vehicle presumably provided the K9 unit a scent to track and within one hour around 11:30 p.m., Chief DePoppe said the K9 unit tracked one suspect down near Clark Street and Staunton Road. Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service was dispatched to evaluate a dog bite and a dispatcher announced on the police radio that the second suspect remained at large potentially armed.

Chief DePoppe confirmed to The BenGil Post that the second suspect believed to be involved was captured in the early morning hours on Tuesday after an informational tip from a Gillespie resident. Both suspects were apprehended without incident despite the K9 biting one suspect late Monday evening, but DePoppe declined to comment whether the subjects were armed.

“There was no resistance and we made peaceful arrests,” Chief DePoppe concluded. “Gillespie Police Department thanks all the responding officers for their assistance.”

Advertisement

The two male subjects believed to be the suspects are being held at Macoupin County Jail. The incident remains under investigation. Charges from the Macoupin County State’s Attorney were not available at the time of publication.

Assisting Gillespie Police Department on the scene were Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office, Benld Police Department, Carlinville K9 Unit and Bunker Hill Police Department.

Share this story

Comments

comments

Breaking News

Thunderstorms, winds, snow, freezing rain coming to BenGil area

Published

on

Another major winter storm is forecasted to blanket the BenGil area in heavy rains, flooding and snowfall starting Wednesday night through Thursday.

The mixture of precipitation and rapidly changing weather likely will produce the potential for sudden icing on roads, with high winds leading to blowing snow and reduced visibility.

“The Illinois Department of Transportation’s snow-and-ice teams will be prepared and out in force, but the public needs to be ready for conditions to change quickly and worsen if they are out on the roads,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “As always during periods of extreme weather, the safest option is to postpone any unnecessary trips and stay home. If you must travel, prepare for very slow and potentially hazardous conditions. And please slow down around our plows and other emergency vehicles, giving them plenty of room to do their jobs.”

The National Weather Service is predicting a wintry mix of precipitation to start with thunderstorms and heavy rain in much of the state this evening, converting to freezing rain overnight before turning to snow Thursday morning. In addition to localized flooding, ice and sleet accumulations are likely, creating extremely slippery surfaces and slick conditions.

Due to the rainy conditions ahead of temperatures falling overnight, the effectiveness of pretreating and salting surfaces in advance of significant snowfall will be limited. The public should anticipate icy conditions even when roads appear clear and greatly reduce speeds. 

“As the Illinois State Police plans to take on the unpredictable Illinois weather, we would like to remind motorists to do their part in keeping the roads a safe place,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.  “ISP, alongside IDOT and other agencies, will be working in hazardous weather conditions. Please remember to slow down, stay vigilant and move over for ANY vehicle on the side of the road.”

Statewide, IDOT has available more than 1,800 trucks and equipment to plow, treat roads and respond to weather emergencies. If you encounter a plow or any maintenance vehicle during your travels, please slow down, increase your following distance and remain patient. Do not attempt to pass – conditions in front of the plow will be worse than behind it.

Advertisement
Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Breaking News

Police investigating death of Bunker Hill woman

Published

on

Police are investigating the death of a Bunker Hill woman who was found dead at the end of her driveway near the roadway on Monday morning, January 31.

Nancy Blycker, 91, had multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call to the 2900 block of Wood Hill Lane around 7:40 a.m. on Monday.

The initial suspicion was homicide, according to a release by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis who said approximately 20 investigators were working the investigation, but the autopsy contradicted that suspicion.

The Major Case Squad said on Tuesday it is “highly unlikely” Blycker’s death was the “result of homicidal means.”

The Major Case Squad turned the case back over to the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department. The official cause of death is pending further lab analysis.

Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Breaking News

Winter storm warning issued for BenGil area

Published

on

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the BenGil area, southwestern Illinois, and the St. Louis area.

The warning was issued early Tuesday taking effect at midnight tonight until noon on Thursday, February 3 calling for a “wet, heavy” snow. The forecast also calls for ice prompting a warning about possible power outages.

“All indications continue to point to a disruptive, impactful, and dangerous winter storm impacting the region starting late tonight and lasting through Thursday night,” the National Weather Service said in its Area Forecast Discussion.

The BenGil area is expected to receive heavy mixed precipitation including snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches, sleet accumulations around three-quarters of an inch, and ice accumulations around two-tenths of an inch. Wind gusts will be as high as 35 mph on Thursday.

The storm is expected to start with rain most of the day today before transitioning into a mixture of freezing rain and/or sleet Tuesday night, then all snow Wednesday morning or as late as Wednesday afternoon continuing until about noon on Thursday.

Share this story

Comments

comments

Continue Reading

Trending

×

We need your support. If you value having timely, accurate news about your community, please become one of our subscribers. Subscribe