NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Princeville man dies in plane crash
LINCOLN – Princeville native Mitchell Janssen, 22, was one of three people killed Tuesday morning when a four-seat Cessna 172 airplane crashed along Interstate 55 near Lincoln.
Illinois State Police would not identify those killed in the crash until Wednesday. But numerous sources in Princeville, including family members, confirmed that one of the victims in the plane crash was Janssen, a 2015 Princeville High School graduate and a 2019 Bradley University graduate.
While still a Bradley student, Janssen purchased his own plane. He
has flown commercial charter flights out of Central Illinois Regional Air-
port in Bloomington-Normal.
Peoria man dies in single-vehicle accident
ELMWOOD – An 18-year-old Peoria man died Monday afternoon
after the vehicle he was riding in rolled over numerous times and landed in a field south of the 15000 block of West Southport Road, just
east of Eden Road. According to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood, despite aggressive resuscitative efforts by EMS and LifeFlight staff, the passenger, Matthew W. McCuan, 18, of Schweer Court, Peoria, was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:04 p.m. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.
At approximately 1:50 p.m., the Peoria County Sheriff’s office, the Illinois State Police, Brimfield Fire Department and OSF Life Flight Helicopter were called to the 15000 block of West Southport Rd for the accident.
According to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am was traveling eastbound on Southport when it left the roadway and rolled multiple times, landing in a field on the south side of the road.
Officials had to temporarily close the highway and redirect traffic around the scene.
Windish pleads guilty to misdemeanor battery
BRIMFIELD – Matthew Windish of Brimfield pleaded guilty to misde-
meanor battery on Monday in Pekin, according to reports in the Peoria
Journal Star.
Windish, 39, a member of the Peoria County Board, will reportedly not have a conviction entered on his record if he successfully completes 18 months of court supervision. He made his plea one week prior to a scheduled trial in Tazewell County.
Windish was also fined $75. The charge stems from an incident on Nov. 5 in a parking lot owned by A&R Bulk Transport outside Tremont. Windish allegedly made physical contact “of an insulting or provoking nature” with Christian Wolf, who worked for A&R Bulk Transport. Windish was arrested after the incident and was formally charged one week later by the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office.
State Police release February activity stats
METAMORA – Illinois State Police (ISP) District 08 Commander, Chad Peterson, has announced activity and enforcement figures for Feb-
ruary. Troopers in District 8, which includes Peoria County, answered
235 calls for service and initiated 965 incidents in the field during the
month.
In addition, enforcement figures totaled 333 citations and 566 written warnings, including 105 speeding citations, 24 DUI citations, 9 seatbelt citations, 7 child restraint citations, 107 written warnings for speeding and 31 criminal arrests. Troopers also assisted 213 motorists, investigated 73 traffic crashes, and conducted 149 motor carrier inspections, resulting in 7 unsafe commercial motor vehicles/drivers being placed out of service.
Police reports
YATES CITY – Benjamin L. Price, 36, of Yates City was arrested on Feb. 28 for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, DUI drug, operating an uninsured motor vehicle/bodily harm, using an electronic communication device while driving, and unlawful possession of cannabis. He was also cited for improper lane usage.
KICKAPOO – Police were called to the 9700 block of west U.S. Route 150 after a Peoria woman hit a utility pole while driving home from Pizza 150 on Feb. 23, according to a Peoria County Sheriff report. Brimfield Fire Dept. was on scene when police arrived. Jessica R. Alig, 29 of Peoria was cited for DUI alcohol, improper lane usage, and using an electronic device while driving.
FARMINGTON – Amanda Newman, 40, of Farmington was charged on Feb. 25 for driving on a suspended/revoked license and illegal transportation of alcohol after she was stopped in the 1000 block of E. Fort St., according to a Farmington Police report.
BRIMFIELD – Michael T. Cusack, 50, of Brimfield was arrested March 2 after being charged with obstructing identification, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s report.
FARMINGTON – Two juveniles were charged on Feb. 27 with criminal damage to government propertyover $500 and trespassing on state-supported property after doing “donuts” on the JFL football field in
the 600 block of E. Vernon St. in Farmington, according to a Farming-
ton police report. Property damage was estimated at $1,000-$2,000. The juveniles were also cited for obstructing justice for attempting to blame another person for the damage.
FARMINGTON – After being pulled over by Farmington police for rolling through the stop sign at N. Main and Fort Streets on Feb. 27,William Angelo, Jr., 48, of London Mills was found to have an outstanding Fulton County warrant for failure to appear in court on a retail theft charge, according to a Farmington police report.
FARMINGTON – Police were called to the old school building in the 300 block of W. Fort St. on March 1 after it was reported there was a person was inside, according to a Farmington police report. A Farmington juvenile was charged with trespassing to real property and criminal damage to property under $500.
The building is owned by Spoon River Home Health and is used for storage. The juvenile was released to his parents.
TRIVOLI – James M. Beneventi, 38, of Trivoli was arrested Feb. 27.
Accident • Carol A. Dreyer struck an animal on Feb. 23 as she was about to enter the Interstate 474 ramp from eastbound Interstate 74. The animal was gone from the scene and Dreyer wasn’t sure if it was a deer or a coyote.
