NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports
• YATES CITY – A Yates City man who called law-enforcement authorities to complain about a neighbor’s music level was wanted regarding an illegal-drugs crime.
A Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched about 11:15 p.m. March 24 to a residence in the 100 block of E. Main St. Joshua L. Lopeman, 44, and another resident said the neighbor was playing loud music at all hours of the night, according to a sheriff’s-office report.
While the deputy was speaking with the neighbor, it was discovered Lopeman was wanted in Fulton County for failure to appear in court and for possession of a controlled substance. Lopeman was arrested and transported to the Knox County Jail in Galesburg, where he was to post bond.
As for the neighbor, he complained about Lopeman throwing trash in the alley, said there was no noise ordinance in Yates City and refused to turn down his music. The deputy suggested the 56-year-old man do so for neighborliness.
• WILLIAMSFIELD – A traffic stop on Interstate 74 south of Williamsfield resulted in a Galesburg man’s arrest for multiple vehicle-related offenses.
Lyle D. Utsinger, 50, was behind the wheel of a 2010 Ford Focus when a Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled it over about 6:15 p.m. April 4 at mile marker 64. A pre-stop check of the license-plate number revealed Utsinger was wanted in Knox County for failure to appear in court.
The warrant-related charge against Utsinger was for not having a valid driver’s license. He was cited again for that, as well as for operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and was transported to the Knox County Jail in Galesburg. The vehicle was impounded.
• KICKAPOO – A Peoria woman was accused of domestic battery regarding an incident at a Kickapoo-area gasoline station.
Crystal L. Bustamante, 33, was arrested following the incident, which happened shortly before 8 p.m. April 3 at the Shell station at 7116 N. Kickapoo-Edwards Rd.
A heavily redacted Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report indicated the victim was a 28-year-old woman from Peoria. A 27-year-old Elmwood woman was a witness.
• FARMINGTON – An argument devolved into an apparent physical confrontation that resulted in a Farmington man’s arrest.
Farmington police responded about 5 p.m. March 30 to a residence in the 100 block of N. Oak St. The 35-year-old victim had injury marks on her arms, neck and shoulder, according to a report. The suspect, 32-year-old Skilar L. Harrell of Farmington, was not at the residence.
An officer located Harrell at Township Park. For safekeeping, the officer took possession of a Springfield Armory XD 9-mm handgun and 29 rounds of ammunition found in Harrell’s truck. Harrell was accused of domestic battery and transported to the Fulton County Jail in Lewistown.
• DOUGLAS – A Douglas-area woman appeared to be a forgery victim, according to authorities.
The 25-year-old said she received an email March 30 that stated a Capital One credit card was being sent to her, a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report stated. The woman indicated she had not applied for the card.
Capital One informed the victim someone provided her Social Security number, among other personal information. A text message regarding the card also was sent to the victim. Capital One’s fraud department was notified.
• PEORIA – An Edwards man was accused of threatening a woman and sending obscene photographs to her by cellphone.
James C. Ernst Jr., 56, was arrested at 3:30 p.m. March 30 in connection with the messages, which first were reported March 20 to the Peoria Police Department, according to a report. At the time, the woman was staying at Motel 6, 2726 W. Lake Ave.
Ernst was charged with telephone harassment, transmitting an obscene message and unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
• EDELSTEIN – A Pekin man was arrested at an Edelstein residence for various crimes.
A Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched shortly before 4 p.m. March 29 to the 20700 block of N. Sixth St. regarding a stolen trailer. A heavily redacted sheriff’s-office report indicated Damian J. Prather, 36, was apprehended shortly thereafter at Fourth and Main streets.
Prather was accused of obstructing justice and of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He also was being held for other agencies regarding outstanding warrants from two unspecified cases.
• PEORIA – Shortly before 1:15 a.m. April 4, Matthew Hawkins of Princeville was driving a westbound 2014 Toyota Tundra on Grange Hall Road at Ford Road northwest of Peoria when the vehicle struck a deer. Hawkins declined medical attention, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. The vehicle sustained front-end damage but was drivable.
• BRIMFIELD – At 8 p.m. March 26, Kelly A. Skees of Dunlap was driving an eastbound 2017 Jeep Cherokee in the 15000 block of W. Brimfield-Jubilee Rd. east of Brimfield when the vehicle struck a deer. Neither Skees nor her passenger was injured, a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report stated. She drove away the vehicle, which sustained damage to its grille, hood and front bumper and lights. The impact killed the deer.
• YATES CITY – Samantha J. York, 38, of Yates City was arrested at 1:30 p.m. April 13 and accused of failure to appear in court, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. She was extradited from Knox County, where she was in custody for an unspecified offense.
The Peoria County case dated from 2023. York was accused of driving with a revoked license, no proof of insurance, no vehicle registration and making an improper turn at an intersection.
• ELMWOOD – Christopher R. Coulter, 37, of Elmwood was taken into custody at 1 p.m. April 10 in connection with a previous case of driving more than 35 mph over the speed limit, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.
• ELMWOOD – Chief Aaron Bean reported the following Elmwood Police Department activity for March: 12 traffic stops, 15 warnings, 17 reports, two open doors and three ordinance violations.
• FARMINGTON – Chief Chris Darsham reported the following Farmington Police Department activity for March: 215 business checks, 3,466 building checks, two crashes, two property crimes, four traffic tickets, two ordinance violations, six crimes against people, three miscellaneous, 19 traffic stops, three arrests, 13 reports, 262 total calls and 10 calls to assist other police departments.
• WILLIAMSFIELD – Chief James Robertson reported the following Williamsfield Police Department activity for March: one suspicious incident, one accidental 9-1-1 call, one animal complaint, one domestic problem, one fraud complaint and one battery complaint.
• YATES CITY – Chief Randy Benson reported the following Yates City Police Department activity for March: 16 reports, 13 traffic stops, 10 warnings, five citations, two ordinance violations, one arrest and one notice to appear.
• GALESBURG – These were among calls to which the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded between March 30-April 5: burglar alarm, Dahinda; verbal domestic dispute, Dahinda; DOA, Yates City; fraud, Dahinda; stray dog, Williamsfield; burglary, Williamsfield; suspicious incident, Yates City; person down, Williamsfield; dog bite, Dahinda; suspicious vehicle, Williamsfield.
Marriage licenses
• Chelsea Dawn-Marie LaPorte and Alfred Morris Treesh, both of Princeville.
• Claire Angela Rose Scherr of Brimfield and Kody Jacob Frye of Peoria.
