NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Police reports
• YATES CITY – During a search for explosive devices at a Yates City residence, a local man was arrested for illegal-drugs possession.
Zachary R. Cassel, 33, was found shortly before 11:30 p.m. Nov. 22 on the back porch of a residence in the 400 block of S. Dixon St., according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report. In one of Cassel’s pockets was a clear baggie that contained a white substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine.
Also found was a glass pipe. Cassel was accused of possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Knox County Jail in Galesburg.
Robert L. Cassel, 58, also was arrested. He was accused of making a terrorist threat and disorderly conduct. Components of a possible pipe bomb were found inside the residence. According to a report, Robert Cassel intended to use an explosive device against a Brimfield man.
• OAK HILL – A tractor worth about $100,000 was destroyed in a fire at a farm south of Oak Hill.
First responders were summoned about 4:30 p.m. Nov. 16 to the 5900 block of N. Windish Rd. Heavy black smoke and flames were emanating from the 2006 Caterpillar Challenger tractor, which was about a mile into a field, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report.
The 69-year-old farmer said the tractor died as he was traversing a hill. He noticed a small flame in the intake, but his fire extinguisher malfunctioned. Brimfield, Elba-Salem, Elmwood and Logan-Trivoli firefighters responded, as did BYE Ambulance Service.
• ELMWOOD – An Elmwood woman was accused of drunken driving following a two-vehicle wreck north of the city.
Jennee E. Stear, 35, was driving a westbound Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck shortly before 8:45 p.m. Nov. 14 on Illinois Route 8 when at Illinois Route 78 the vehicle rear-ended a Ford Edge, according to the Illinois State Police.
The Edge was stopped at the intersection. Authorities did not identify the driver. No injuries were reported. Stear was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol and for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. She was transported to the Peoria County Jail.
• FARMINGTON – A traffic stop on Nov. 15 in Farmington led to a local man being accused of failure to appear in court. Daniel B. Kenney, 48, was wanted in Fulton County in connection with a 2025 accusation of driving with a revoked license, according to a Farmington police report.
Kenney received a notice to appear.
• KICKAPOO – A Peoria man was accused of attempting to fight other people at a Kickapoo bar.
A Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy was summoned about 8:30 p.m. Nov. 12 to Kickapoo Creek Saloon, 9827 U.S. Route 150. There he found Kevin E. Bracy, 33, described in a heavily redacted sheriff’s-office report as a former employee who refused to leave when asked.
Bracy was charged with criminal trespass.
• TRIVOLI – A Trivoli woman appeared to avoid injury from a hit-and-run accident in her hometown.
Xochitil R. Stafford was driving a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica minivan that slowed to make a left turn shortly after 9 p.m. Nov. 12 on Illinois Route 116 near Quarry Road when another westbound vehicle passed hers, struck it, then traversed ditches on both sides of the road and continued on its way.
Stafford said she didn’t see the occupants, per a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. A witness said the other vehicle might have been a 2000s-era Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. Stafford said she wasn’t injured. The vehicle sustained functional damage.
• PRINCEVILLE – For the third time in less than a month, a Princeville man was arrested for domestic battery. Jesse L. Rosas, 38, was transported to the Peoria County Jail following the most recent incident, which happened shortly before 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at a residence in the 300 block of E. Evans St. The victim was a 37-year-old Princeville woman, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was notified. Rosas also was arrested Nov. 5 and Oct. 23.
• ELMWOOD – At least three shotguns were reported stolen from an Elmwood-area residence.
The apparent burglary in the 6300 block of N. McClellan Rd. was reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10. The model of firearms were among items redacted from a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report.
A 42-year-old Elmwood man was the victim. A suspect was listed, but his or her name was redacted.
• VICTORIA – A Williamsfield-area man was accused of multiple offenses after his vehicle hit a trailer parked along a road east of Victoria.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Nov. 8, Michael E. Alford, 23, was driving a northbound 2008 Hyundai Sonata that failed to negotiate a curve on Illinois Route 180 at Knox Highway 24. The vehicle traversed an east-side ditch, struck culverts and hit the front of the trailer, a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report stated.
The trailer, which sustained significant damage, belonged to a Port Byron highway-construction company.
Alford appeared to be uninjured. He was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to give information about an accident that involved property damage and failure to report an accident. The Sonata was towed.
• LEWISTOWN – Jacob G. Stevenson, 37, of Edwards was arrested Nov. 28 for failure to appear in court regarding a domestic-battery case, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
• KICKAPOO – Shortly after 10:45 p.m. Nov. 11, Adam L. Wasson of Princeville was driving a 2019 Nissan Versa west on Grange Hall Road near Evans Mill Road north of Kickapoo when the vehicle struck a deer. Wasson was not injured, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. The vehicle was drivable.
• GLASFORD – At 6:15 a.m. Nov. 11, Michael M. Cady of Trivoli was driving a southbound 2020 Ford F-150 pickup truck in the 8000 block of S. Trivoli Rd. north of Glasford when the vehicle struck a deer. Cady had no apparent injuries, a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report stated. The vehicle was towed.
• GALESBURG – These were among calls to which the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded between Nov. 16-29: two suspicious incidents, Yates City; unwanted subject, Yates City; open door, Dahinda; civil issue, Williamsfield; theft, Yates City; fraud, Williamsfield; three fires, Yates City; suspicious incident, Dahinda; stray dog, Williamsfield; telephone harassment, Yates City; two domestic disputes, Yates City; suspicious incident, Douglas; damage, Williamsfield; domestic dispute, Dahinda; road hazard, Dahinda; trespass, Dahinda.
