Marion County Police Beat for Monday, January 23rd, 2012

A 36-year-old Centralia woman escaped injury, but was jailed on multiple charges after her car crashed into a power pole at 8th and Elm in Centralia just before midnight Saturday night.
Centralia Police say Patricia Gregory of Devonia Drive knocked down the pole and street light, with the live power lines falling across her car. Reports indicate Gregory was able to get out of the car without electrical shock. She was ticketed for driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, no mandatory auto insurance, and on outstanding Marion and Clinton County warrants. A 25-year-old Centralia man had to be tazed twice as Centralia Police were attempting to take him into custody on Saturday on outstanding Marion and Clinton County warrants.
Shane Littleton of South Hickory remained in the Marion County Jail Monday morning on the two warrants as well as a new charge of resisting arrest. Centralia Police say they initially were called to a domestic disturbance at Littleton's home. He allegedly fought with police when they attempted to handcuff him. He eventually was taken to the ground, but had to be tazed twice before allowing police to complete the handcuffing process.
Three others remained in jail Monday on outstanding warrants. 28-year-old Amber Foltz of North Park in Central City is being held on an outstanding DUI warrant. 20-year-old William Timms of South Cherry in Centralia was arrested on a Marion County ordinance violation warrant. 41-year-old John Brumfield of North Maple in Centralia is being held on an outstanding St. Clair County warrant. 38-year-old Lashanda Webb of East Rhodes in Centralia posted bond on a Jasper County traffic warrant and was released. Bond was set at $150.
The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a residential burglary at the Nancy Smith home on North Merritt Street in Odin. A flashlight, food, and candy are missing along with $16 taken from her purse. The burglary was reported at 2:28 Sunday afternoon. - http://goo.gl/cIrL5

Durbin: For-Profit Colleges Target Veterans

CHICAGO (AP) - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says more must be done to make sure for-profit colleges with higher costs and default rates don't unfairly target U.S. veterans. The Illinois Democrat and several veterans who say they fell victim to aggressive recruiting by some of the schools spoke at a forum on the issue Monday in Chicago. Veteran Bernetta Garrett told the meeting that one for-profit school pushed her to upgrade her degree until she was tens of thousands of dollars in debt. And she says she still couldn't get a job after completing her education. Durbin says he's introducing legislation designed to reduce incentives for for-profit colleges to aggressively recruit veterans. - http://goo.gl/PaHRc

Church shooting apparently accidental

WENTZVILLE, Mo. -- Police in the St. Charles County town of Wentzville now believe a shooting inside a church was an accident.

A man was struck by gunfire Saturday night at St. Patrick's Catholic Church during a trivia night to raise money for a Wentzville woman with cancer. A shot rang out at the same time balloons were being popped near the end of the evening. Everyone inside the church was interviewed and searched.

But on Sunday, a man came forward and indicated that the shooting was unintentional. Police did not elaborate. Authorities have not determined if charges will be filed.

The 23-year-old man struck by the bullet is in serious but stable condition. - http://goo.gl/YLLda

1 dead, 2 in custody after St. Louis gun battle

ST. LOUIS -- Two people are in custody in St. Louis after a body was found inside a car following a gun battle.

Reports that the Sunday night shooting happened on the city's north side. A caller told police that several people in a car began shooting at people, and those people shot back.

Police spotted the suspect car and followed it, and a chase began. The car stopped after hitting spike strips put down by police. The driver tried to run but was captured.

In the front seat of the car, police found a man who had been shot in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A third passenger was also taken into custody. - http://goo.gl/vHClL

Lightning Strike Causes Damage At Three Homes in Kinmundy; No Other Damage Recorded From Heavy Storm Activity

A lightning strike Sunday night caused damage at three homes near the Fifth and Madison Street intersection in Kinmundy. Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Day says lightning appears to have hit the corner of the Chris Patton home at 504 South Madison near the satellite dish and then spread through the ground to the other two homes. Fortunately, there were no fires inside any of the homes. Day says the electrical wiring burned in the Patton home and they lost all of their electronic devices that were plugged in at the time of the strike. The lightning also damaged items plugged into the electrical system at the Kevin Hollowell home at 203 Fifth Street. While the lightning caused no damage inside the Jake Brimberry home at 109 Fifth Street, it did cause a natural gas line outside near the meter to rupture. Fire was coming out of the ruptured line when firemen arrived. However, Day says it was far enough from the home not to cause any concerns. They left the fire burn until Atmos Gas could arrive to shut off the line. Day feared more problems from having the gas spewing into the air. The fire calls came in at 10:48 Sunday night. Some fire equipment remained on the scene until 12:20 Monday morning when the gas line was turned off. Day thinks the lightning may have been able to travel between the homes because of the saturated ground conditions. Assistant Chief Richard Day says they had plenty of help to be able to survey potential problems from the lightning strike inside all three homes. The damage was the only reported in Marion County related to the line of heavy thunderstorms that crossed the area Sunday night. The storms blew into the county with strong winds. 83-hundredths of an inch of rain was recorded at the Alma Weather Station, 78-hundredths at the Centralia Water Plant, and only one-tenth of an inch at the Salem Water Plant. No storm warnings were issued for Marion County. Severe thunderstorm warnings were posted for Jefferson and Wayne County, but so far there have been no reports of any serious damage. - http://goo.gl/zwfTK

State officials want to hire conservation police

CHICAGO -- Officials with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources say the agency wants to hire conservation police officers.

State officials have scheduled a Thursday presentation in Chicago on the topic.

Applicants must have a two-year degree with three years of consecutive experience as a police officer or a four-year degree from an accredited university.

Then they'll have to take a swim test and undergo a background check, among other things. The job also requires weeks of training.

Conservation police officers enforce criminal, vehicle and drug law in Illinois state parks. Their duties include patrolling on Illinois lakes and rivers to check boating safety and watercraft registration. - http://goo.gl/iEA3J