The Weekly Post public record for 4-18-24

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Police reports
• WILLIAMSFIELD – Gunfire reported at a property south of Williamsfield came from Princeville-area men who were attempting to destroy a beaver dam, according to authorities.

A nearby resident alerted the Knox County Sheriff’s Office regarding gunshots and explosions heard about noon March 30 near the 1000 block of Knox Road 2300 East. A deputy reported to the scene.

There the deputy found 24-year-old Alec D. Wagenbach, 21-year-old Nolan D. Wagenbach and seven juveniles from the Edelstein, Princeville and Wyoming areas, according to a sheriff’s-office report.

According to accounts, Alec Wagenbach farms the property for its owner, a Peoria man. Beavers had built a dam that caused part of the land to flood. The Wagenbachs placed Tannerite, an explosive, into PVC pipes they stuck in the dam and shot with rifles. Both men had valid FOID cards.

The juveniles were not firing guns but were using cellphones, a GoPro camera and a drone to take video of the dam-busting effort, the report stated.

After five explosions, the dam opened enough to allow water to drain. The men were told to end their efforts, based on multiple complaints. A report was to be filed with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. An IDNR Conservation Police officer was to speak with the parties involved.

• PRINCEVILLE – A Princeville man was accused of battery in connection with an incident in his hometown. Christopher M. Colvin, 48, was arrested about 4:30 p.m. March 30 in the 100 block of W. South St., according to a heavily redacted Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. A deputy was dispatched there regarding a disorderly-conduct complaint.

• HANNA CITY – A Farmington man was accused of assault regarding an incident at a Hanna City convenience store. Gary J. Blackard, 64, was arrested about 4:30 p.m. March 30, according to a heavily redacted Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. The incident occurred earlier at Casey’s, 13203 W. Farmington Rd.

• FARMINGTON – A Farmington man said someone stole more than $1,500 in tools and other equipment from his shed.
The 63-year-old victim reported the items missing about 6 p.m. March 29 from a residence in the 500 block of E. Fort St. The last time he had seen the missing items was March 27, a police report stated.

A total of 10 items was reported missing – a Craftsman snow blower valued at $519; a Huskee tiller valued at $200; a gas-powered earth auger valued at $300; a Hitachi circular saw valued at $90; a Hitachi air nailer valued at $75; a Bostitch air nailer valued at $200; a Craftsman 20-volt battery valued at $39; a Craftsman 20-volt finish nailer valued at $319; an 8-pound sledgehammer valued at $20; and a Schumacher battery charger worth $80.

Total estimated value was $1,662.

• FARMINGTON – Bottles of alcohol were reported stolen from a Farmington grocery store. The alleged theft from County Market, 1090 E. Fort St., was reported about 7:30 p.m. March 27. A County Market supervisor said two women put in a basket two 750-milliliter bottles of Hennessy Cognac and two bottles of Remy Martin VSOP Cognac.

According to a Farmington police report, the women then went to the store’s pharmacy section, where there are no security cameras. There they placed the bottles in their purses and left the store. Total value of the booze was $157.96. No suspect information was available.

• YATES CITY – A Yates City man said a vehicle was stolen from his residence.

The gray 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix was reported missing about 2:30 a.m. March 26 from the 400 block of W. Main St., according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report. The 36-year-old victim accused his former girlfriend, a Canton resident, of taking the vehicle without his permission.

Authorities in Fulton County also were notified about the alleged theft.

• YATES CITY – A suspected residential burglary in Yates City resulted in authorities detaining two men who had outstanding warrants.

Officers were called about 1:45 p.m. March 24 to the 400 block of W. Main St., where three people were found inside the residence.

One was a 25-year-old woman who was moving out of the house, and the other two were helping her, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report.

Robert Dietrich, 33, of Bryant, one of the helpers, was found to have three outstanding warrants – two in Fulton County and one in Henderson County. Another helper, 43-year-old Eric F. Brand of Farmington, was wanted in Fulton County.

Brand was released after he received a notice to appear in Fulton County Circuit Court. Dietrich was transported to the Knox County Jail in Galesburg.

Their crimes were not specified.

• FARMINGTON – Someone damaged a vehicle parked at a Farmington address, authorities stated.

The damage of more than $500 to a 2016 Ford F-150 pickup truck was reported about 9:30 a.m. March 20. The incident happened between 2:30 p.m. March 19 and 9 a.m. March 20 in the 100 block of W. Pearl St.

• FARMINGTON – Edward D. Clayton, 37, of Louisiana, Mo., was arrested shortly before 1 a.m. March 21 at Elmwood Road and Fort Street in Farmington on a Fulton County warrant for failure to appear in court. Clayton was accused of drunken driving, according to a Farmington police report.

After Clayton paid $180 in bond and fees, he was released and given a new court date. A Clayton associate, Ryan D. Travis, was cited for having open alcohol in a motor vehicle. His hometown was not available.

• PRINCEVILE – Yolanda M. Rodriguez, 42, of Princeville was arrested about 9:45 p.m. April 7 and accused of theft control intent between $500 and $10,000, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.

• LAURA – Zachary D. Robertson, 35, of Laura was arrested about 10:30 a.m. April 6 and accused of criminal trespass to land, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.

• YATES CITY – Chief Randy Benson reported the following Yates City Police Department activity for March: five arrests, two citations, one open door, 12 reports, 10 warnings, 10 traffic stops and one notice to appear.

• GALESBURG – These were among calls to which the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded between March 31-April 6: harassment, Farmington; disturbance, Williamsfield; suspicious vehicle, Williamsfield; domestic dispute, Oak Run; vehicle fire, Yates City; suspicious incident, Yates City.