CRIME & SAFETY
Fatal crash claims the life of Ogle County man, 67
POLO, Ill. (WTVO) — An Ogle County man is dead after a fatal crash Monday afternoon. According to the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, the Polo Fire Department responded to the 1000 block of N. Freeport Road around 5 p.m. and discovered the driver of a maroon 1993 Buick had been traveling northbound when it went […]
Freeport expanding contract with gunshot-detection service ShotSpotter
FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — Police in Freeport will soon have the ability to track where gunshots are occurring in more portions of the city. On Monday night, aldermen approved an expanded agreement with SoundThinking, the company formerly known as ShotSpotter. The system uses small audio sensors placed throughout the city to triangulate the sound of […]
Rockford man threatens couple with a knife for money for drugs: Police
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police arrested Brandon Sarver, 24, for allegedly threatening a couple with a knife for money for drugs. On Monday, around 8:15 p.m., police were dispatched to the 400 block of Orchard Park Street for a domestic violence call. The female victim told police Sarver wanted money for drugs and held […]
Rockford man charged with murder
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police arrested Douglas Bell, 20, for first-degree murder on May 7th. On Tuesday, around 5:49 p.m., police responded to the 4900 block of Linden Road for a report of a gunshot victim. When officials arrived they located the victim and identified her as 19-year-old Elizabeth Beasley. During the investigation, authorities […]
Man arrested after hostage standoff in Rockford
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - Early Monday morning, Rockford police responded to a home for a report of a violent domestic disturbance involving a suspect with a gun. Around 1:30 a.m. Monday at the 200 block of Howard Ave, police found Jamarious Shoulders, 27, a woman and four children inside a home. Rockford Police SWAT and hostage negotiations responded to the scene and safely removed the woman and four children from the home.
Rockford pedestrian fighting for his life after getting hit by a car
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – A man is fighting for his life after police say he was hit by a car on a busy Rockford roadway. Rockford Police said in a post on X that the crash happened around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday night on Harrison Avenue near 8th and 9th Streets. RPD only described the victim […]
Hero of Eggleston Road: Rockford man shares chilling account of fight with alleged killer
A wound closed by 10 staples to the back of Keith Fahrney's head has healed, but his fight with a man accused of brutally killing four people in his southeast Rockford neighborhood is still fresh. It was just over a month ago when Fahrney, a 51-year-old husband and hockey dad, was driving to his home when he witnessed commotion in the street. He saw two women running with towels, and then he saw a woman on the...
Rockford man found guilty in 2022 reckless firing of gun
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Charles Jones, 53, was found guilty of firing a gun during an argument. On February 6th, 2022, Rockford Police responded to the 1500 block of Pauline Avenue to a shots fired call. The caller said they could hear a man and woman arguing which was followed by three gunshots. The woman […]
Rockford running club wants to raise awareness in the wake of pedestrians being hit
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Rockford Road Runners want to raise awareness in the wake of three people being hit by cars in the past week. Carol Wison knows the risk someone takes running, biking or just walking near a road. “I have a few friends that got hit,” said Secretary of the Rockford Road […]
Rockford schools no longer required to report some crimes to police
Rockford Public Schools administrators no longer will be required to report group violence, robbery, battery, gang-related behavior, physical aggression or false alarms among other potential illegal student activity to police. Those kind of student offenses will still be subject to potential suspensions and even expulsions. Under a newly revised student code of...
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