NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Police reports
• HANNA CITY – A Farmington man was arrested for drunken driving after he drove his pickup truck into a ditch west of Hanna City.
A Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy found Robert L. Thomas, 53, inside his vehicle about 4:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in the eastbound-lane ditch along the 14000 block of W. Farmington Rd. Another driver alerted authorities regarding Thomas, a sheriff’s-office report stated.
That driver said Thomas almost hit her vehicle in East Peoria. She was headed for Yates City, so she had been following Thomas since that near-collision. After his truck swerved into the ditch, Thomas exited his vehicle, approached her vehicle and attempted to open one of its doors, according to the report.
The deputy transported Thomas to Peoria County Jail, where he failed field-sobriety tests and refused chemical testing. Thomas was accused of driving under the influence and of illegal transportation of alcohol.
• FARMINGTON – For the second time in less than a month, someone stole liquor from a Farmington convenience store, according to authorities. The most recent apparent theft took place about 6:30 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Marathon gasoline station at 600 E. Fort St.
Video-surveillance footage revealed the suspect grabbed a 750-milliliter bottle of Don Julio Blanco tequila and placed it in another aisle, according to a Farmington Police Department report. He then spilled coffee to distract the clerk, placed the booze in his coat pocket, paid for the coffee and left.
The tequila was priced at $69.99. As of early this week, police were searching for the suspect. A similar incident took place Oct. 24 at the Marathon station.
• FARMINGTON – A Farmington woman stole another woman’s credit card and used it to purchase a gift card, authorities allege. Taylor M. Beach, 26, was accused of using the stolen card about 10 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Circle K gasoline station at 1006 E. Fort St. in Farmington. A video-surveillance camera recorded the $54.95 transaction, according to the Farmington Police Department.
Beach was accused of using a credit or debit card with intent to defraud, among other crimes. The victim told police she believes Beach stole the card from her purse, which was in a locker at their workplace. Beach was given a notice to appear in Fulton County Circuit Court.
• KICKAPOO – A Yates City woman drove into a stop sign at a Kickapoo intersection, according to authorities. The accident happened about 2:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at U.S. Route 150 and Kickapoo-Edwards Road.
Rachel Negley was driving a 2014 Dodge sport-utility vehicle north on Kickapoo-Edwards Road and was in line to stop at the intersection.
Instead of braking once she reached the three-way stop, Negley stepped on the accelerator by mistake, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s report. The vehicle knocked down a stop sign in the median. No injuries were reported. The vehicle received minor damage.
• FARMINGTON – Police stopped Alexis M. Truax, 23, of Peoria about 8 p.m. Nov. 1 in the 800 block of E. Fort St. in Farmington because the 2012 Kia Sportage she was driving had no rear registration light. Truax also had no driver’s license or proof of insurance, according to a Farmington Police Department report. She was cited for driving with a suspended license, operating an uninsured vehicle and no rear registration light. Truax was given a notice to appear in Fulton County Circuit Court. Her vehicle was towed.
• TRIVOLI – About 3:15 a.m. Nov. 11, Tammy S. Davis of Farmington was driving a 2016 Toyota 4Runner sport-utility vehicle east in the 19900 block of W. Smithville Rd. south of Trivoli when the vehicle hit a deer. Davis declined medical treatment, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. The SUV sustained disabling front-end damage of more than $1,500 and was towed.
• EDELSTEIN – At 6:30 a.m. Nov. 9, Teresa L. Snodgrass of Princeville was driving a 2010 Ford Expedition sport-utility vehicle west in the 300 block of E. Truitt Rd. east of Edelstein when the vehicle hit a deer. The crash resulted in major damage to the front driver’s side, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Snodgrass was able to drive the vehicle. The deer was killed.
• HANNA CITY – Shortly after 6 p.m. Nov. 9, Alan C. Lee of Farmington was driving a 2011 GMC Sierra pickup truck west on Smithville Road near Eden Road southwest of Hanna City when the vehicle hit a deer. Its front bumper received more than $1,500 in damage, per the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Lee drove away.
• MONICA – Shortly before 10 p.m. Nov. 8, Joshua T. Jackson of Dunlap was driving a 2019 Ford Fusion east on Illinois Route 90 near Maher Road west of Monica when the vehicle hit a deer. According to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle sustained minor damage to its passenger-side headlight and grille. No injuries were reported.
• ELMWOOD – Shortly after 6 p.m. Nov. 8, Douglas C. Houchin of Henry was driving a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country minivan west on Illinois Route 8 near McClellan Road north of Elmwood when the vehicle hit a deer. Houchin refused medical attention, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. The minivan was towed after its front bumper sustained more than $1,500 in damage.
• KICKAPOO – About 5 p.m. Nov. 8, Robert R. Ingle of Dahinda was driving a 2016 GMC Terrain sport-utility vehicle east on Interstate 74 about 3 miles west of Kickapoo-Edwards Road when the vehicle hit a deer. The impact damaged the front bumper, windshield and passenger-side mirror, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Ingle and his three passengers were uninjured, and the vehicle was driven away.
Marriage license
• Brittany Renee Whelan of Farmington and Barry Ryan Shoop of Elmwood.