Ludlow
CRIME & SAFETY
One person dead after Wednesday night crash north of Champaign
HENSLEY TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WCIA) — One person was killed in a motor vehicle accident Wednesday night just outside of Champaign. The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 11:02 p.m. in Hensley Township. One vehicle was headed north on County Road 900 E near 2400 N when it crossed into the southbound lanes […]
Cyclist hit on I-74 near Urbana
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A bicyclist is hospitalized after getting hit by a semi on I-74 late Tuesday night. The crash happened east of Urbana right before midnight, as police said the cyclist crossed the interstate and was struck by an eastbound semi-truck. The driver of the semi wasn’t hurt. The road was initially […]
Urbana man accused of kicking in another's door, beating him
URBANA — An Urbana man has been charged in an incident earlier this month in which someone broke into a man's home and beat him. Champaign County Judge Brett Olmstead ruled this week that Rodney K. Love, 23, may await his pending trial outside of jail after he was charged with one count of home invasion causing injury.
Champaign police honor 24-year-old as top officer
CHAMPAIGN — Last year, Champaign police Officer Maxwell Villanti conducted more than 270 traffic stops, made 12 DUI arrests and recovered 19 illegally possessed firearms. Those standout field results are only partly why Chief Timothy Tyler awarded Villanti the Champaign Police Department’s annual Officer of the Year award during a Wednesday ceremony celebrating National Police Week.
Champaign man gets probation for damaging home of children's mother in 2023
URBANA — A Champaign man has been sentenced to one year of probation for damaging the home of a woman he has children with early last year. Champaign County Judge Roger Webber handed down the sentence this month to Keisean L. Cooper, 32, after he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage to property worth less than $500.
Champaign man gets 4 years in 2023 robbery at Illinois Terminal
URBANA — A Champaign man has been sentenced to four years in prison for robbing someone last year at the Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. Champaign County Judge Matt Lee handed down the sentence April 30 to Lorenzo D. Taylor, 28, after he pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.
Charges dropped against man accused of shooting at three women
URBANA — Attempted-murder charges filed against a Champaign man last year have been dismissed due to what a state prosecutor said was a lack of cooperation from witnesses. Dwayne J. Henderson, 34, was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of being an armed habitual criminal in August 2023, but all four charges were dropped this week before Champaign County Judge Matt Lee.
Champaign man accused of holding father captive at knifepoint for ransom
URBANA — A Champaign man is accused of holding his father hostage for several hours Wednesday while threatening him with a knife in order to obtain money. On Thursday, Judge Brett Olmstead arraigned Zachary D. Browning, 40, on charges of home invasion with a dangerous weapon, aggravated kidnapping for a ransom and aggravated kidnapping while armed.
Police memorial service honors fallen officers
URBANA — The road front of the Champaign County Courthouse was temporarily closed Tuesday morning as officers from various local law enforcement agencies assembled in the rain for an annual police memorial ceremony. Michael Schlosser, retired director of the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, addressed the group and...
C-U Crime Report: May 5-12,2024
Each Thursday, courts-beat reporter Samuel Lisec will assemble a bulletin of local criminal activity reported by C-U police. 1400 block of North Prospect Avenue: A man reported that his vehicle was stolen from outside a restaurant on May 12. The vehicle was involved in an interstate traffic crash before it was reported stolen, and the offender was arrested.
Champaign family to resume 'smoke alarm blitzes' after son's death in 2016 fire
CHAMPAIGN — After pandemic restrictions prevented Joy Sheehan from facilitating her annual blitz of installing smoke detectors in Champaign homes in 2020, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to pick up the campaign again. But after reaching out to the Champaign Fire Department early this year...
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