CRIME & SAFETY

A 55-year-old former area resident has died as a result of injuries sustained in a two vehicle crash Wednesday morning on I-57 south of milepost 68 north of Benton in Franklin County. State Police say preliminary information indicates a vehicle driven by 55-year-old John Hogan of Tunnel Hill and formerly...

“The Sheriff’s Office needs to locate this female to check her well being as soon as possible,” a sheriff’s department release stated.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill. (WJPF) – One person was killed, another was injured in a crash on Interstate 57 in Franklin County. It happened just after 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in between the Benton and West Frankfort exits. Illinois State Police say two vehicles were involved. The deceased died at the...

This week in Carbondale, Illinois, there were three incidents that occurred. One involved a man facing multiple charges, including assault, after a disturbance at a home. Another incident involved a man facing drug possession and child endangerment charges after being pulled over during a traffic stop. Lastly, two runaway teenagers were found and returned home by the Carbondale Police.

ULLIN, Ill. (WICS) — A Southern Illinois man was arrested on Tuesday and is facing charges of aggravated battery to a child. On Nov. 22, at 11 p.m. ISP Zone was requested by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) to investigate life-threatening injuries to a one-month-old child.

BENTON – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office released the following warrant information for publication on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. Fifty-three-year-old Robert J. Carlton is wanted out of Franklin County for battery. He was last known to be living in the Sesser area. Twenty-nine-year-old Jonathan A. Romani is wanted...

Two incidents occurred in Johnston City, Illinois this week. The first incident involved a robbery at Dr. Liquors, where two individuals broke into the store through the drive-through window and stole approximately $1,200 worth of merchandise. The second incident was a house fire on West 5th Street, where a couple was trapped inside. Firefighters from Johnston City, Herrin, and Marion responded, and the couple was eventually freed by breaking out a bedroom window. The fire caused significant damage to the home.

BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a man from Marshall, Illinois, to spend more than three years in federal prison after he called in a bomb threat to a company in Paris, Illinois. Justin L. Switzer, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of willfully threatening the use of...

Two incidents occurred in Jefferson County, Illinois this week. In the first incident, a Bluford woman is facing multiple felony charges including unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She will appear in court on January 10th. In the second incident, a Dix man suffered burns while fighting a fire at his home. He was airlifted to receive medical treatment. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and prevent further damage.

The incidents in Mount Vernon, Illinois this week involved a woman in a truck who was initially reported as trying to escape, but was later found with no evidence of criminal activity. Additionally, Mount Vernon police conducted alcohol compliance checks at county businesses, resulting in several citations for selling alcohol to a minor.

In late December 2022, a teenage boy with a broken arm was left to suffer alone in his cell at a youth lockup in rural southern Illinois. Staff were aware he'd been seriously injured; he told them he was in pain and asked to see a doctor. Two hours passed before staff took him to the hospital, during which they cooked and served dinner and took a group of kids for recreation, he claimed.

MT. VERNON – Jefferson County authorities are alerting the public to a phone scam targeting local health care workers. According to law enforcement, the scammers are contacting the victims and making their caller identification show as if the call is coming from the Jefferson County Courthouse. Victims are being...

CARBONDALE, Ill. (WJPF) – A Carbondale man is facing charges, including domestic violence, after a fight involving a gun. Carbondale Police say Zachary Vineyard, 23, fought with a known acquaintance around 3:20 a.m. Sunday at a home in the 2400 block of South Illinois Avenue in Carbondale. Police say Vineyard was armed with a gun during the fight, but no shots were fired. The victim received minor injuries.

Witness the aftermath of a devastating house fire near Thompsonville that left two individuals severely injured. With no working smoke detectors, the cause of the fire remains a mystery. The survivors recount their harrowing experience and the loss of their home.

Dive into the world of local firefighters in Marion as they undergo specialized disaster training. Watch as they prepare for rescues in confined spaces, recalling past real-life scenarios. Discover how this team is ready to tackle disasters across Southern Illinois and beyond.

The Carbondale Police Department in Illinois has announced that the Carbondale Community Christmas Store will open for the 23rd year. The department operates this initiative, alongside the Coats for Kids program, to provide new coats and toys to children aged 1 to 10 in Carbondale.

This week in Carbondale, Illinois, several incidents occurred that raised concerns for public safety. These incidents include a shooting, the search for two runaway juveniles, a robbery and burglary case resulting in a 10-year sentence, and an arrest made in a hit-and-run investigation.

INA – Illinois State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on northbound I-57 at milepost 82 in Jefferson County around 7:45 Wednesday morning. ISP says injuries were reported. One person was airlifted to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. No further information is available at this time.

Witness a shocking incident in Carbondale where a car crashes into a building. The scene, located near the Lutheran Church and behind Evolve apartments, has been cleared. Stay tuned for more details as we uncover what led to this unexpected event.

CARBONDALE – Carbondale Police say they have found the vehicle involved in a Sept. 26 hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian in the 400 block of East Walnut Street. Police say after getting a tip from the public Sunday, detectives got a search warrant for a location in Herrin where the vehicle, a gray 2010 Nissan Rogue, was found concealed under a tarp in the backyard of a home. The vehicle was seized as a part of the investigation.