ILLINOIS STATE POLICE CONTINUE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IN OLNEY

Olney, IL – On September 9, 2020 at approximately 4:45 p.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 8 officials, with the assistance of Olney Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, arrested Tara N. Haws, a 33-year-old female of Olney, IL in connection with the murder of Kyle M. Johnson on September 6, 2020.  

On September 9, 2020, an arrest warrant for First-Degree Murder by Accountability was issued through the office of Richland County State’s Attorney Charles Bradley Vaughn for Haws. The information charges Haws with First Degree Murder by Accountability based on the murder charge of Kyle M. Johnson, which alleges on or about September 6, 2020, in the 300 block of North Walnut Street, Olney, IL, without lawful justification and with the intent to kill or create great bodily harm to Kyle M. Johnson, shot Kyle M. Johnson with a gun, thereby causing his death.  

Haws is being held in the Richland County Jail on a $1,000,000, 10% to apply bond. Rick A. Meador, a 19-year-old male of Olney, IL is still wanted in connection to the murder of Johnson. 

ISP DCI Zone 8 officials caution the public – Do not approach Meador as he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Meador should call law enforcement immediately. Meador is described as a white male, approximately 5-feet, 11-inches tall and weighing approximately 155 pounds, with brown hair.  

No additional information will be released by the ISP. Any further inquiries should be addressed to the Richland County State’s Attorney’s Office.

A Look Inside 534 & 536 Market Street Buildings

Since our story today of the city’s plan to demolish the two buildings at 6th and Market Streets, there have been those who wondered why the city was tearing the buildings down instead of saving them. Mayor Joe Judge allowed us to shoot some photos this afternoon from the doorway of each building to show their dilapidated status and how a large portion of the upper floors have fallen into the basement.

Judge Says Trick Or Treating Status Uncertain

With so many events this year being cancelled, will trick or treating be next? At Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said the status of trick or treating in Mt. Carmel is still up in the air…

Halloween this year falls on a Saturday.

City Moving Ahead With Demolishing Two Buildings

Two more Market Street buildings will soon be coming down after the city council last night authorized Mayor Joe Judge to seek demo bids for the buildings at the corner of 6th and Market Streets…

Judge explained the owner of the building had bought the property sight-unseen at a tax sale and didn’t realize the poor condition. Instead of undertaking lengthy, expensive legal proceedings to acquire the buildings, the owner gave them to the city. The council authorized up to $70,000 for the demo work that Judge said will be paid for by TIF funds.

Demolition work began yesterday on a vacant building at 407 Market Street. The building was purchased by the county, which is paying for the demo work.

Demolition work began yesterday on a vacant building at 407 Market Street. The building was purchased by the county, which is paying for the demo work.

City Accepting Bids For Market Street Properties

The city of Mt. Carmel is getting aggressive in divesting itself of city-owned properties and vacant lots. At last night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said the city is accepting bids from interested parties to buy or lease vacant lots on Market Street located in the 500 block across from the Post Office and the other being the former Hadley’s location in the 400 block.

The city is also looking to sell the former City Hall building in the 300 block of Market. A major water leak in July of 2019 forced city government to relocate to its’ current location at 631 Market Street. Even though the water leak caused enough damage to prevent the city from repairing it, City Clerk Rudy Witsman said the building is structurally sound with relatively new HVAC and roof. The adjoining parking lots are not part of the sale.

Judge said sealed bids can be submitted to city hall before October 1st. He pointed out that the city is reserving the right to reject any of the bids.

Sealed bids are being accepted for the former City Hall building.

Sealed bids are being accepted for the former Hadley’s lot in the 400 block of Market Street.

The empty lot in the 500 block of Market Street next to State Farm agent Dan Schonert’s office is for sale.

City Deems Building At 502 Market Street As "Unsafe"

This morning, a notice was placed on the front door of the building at 502 Market Street deeming the structure as “unsafe for human occupancy or use”. The notice is dated 9/8/2020. The notice only affects the 502 Market Street building and not the adjoining building at 500 Market Street which houses the Little Egypt Arts Center.

Notice on the door of 502 Market Street.

Only the building to the right is affected by the notice. The 500 Market Street address is unaffected.

ISP Update On Olney Homicide

Olney, IL – On September 6, 2020, Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 8 officials were requested by the Olney Police Department to assist with a homicide investigation at the intersection of North Walnut and East Laurel Street in Olney, Illinois. An adult male, later identified as Kyle M. Johnson, a 19-year-old from Olney, IL, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Through information gathered during the investigation led by ISP DCI Zone 8, a suspect was developed, and an arrest warrant for First-Degree Murder issued through the office of Richland County State’s Attorney Charles Bradley Vaughn for Rick A. Meador, a 19-year-old male of Olney, IL. 

ISP DCI Zone 8 officials caution the public – Do not approach Meador as he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Meador should call law enforcement immediately. Meador is described as a white male, approximately 5-feet, 11-inches tall and weighing approximately 155 pounds, with brown hair.  

No additional information will be released by the ISP. Any further inquiries should be addressed to the Richland County State’s Attorney’s Office.

One rescued, one drowned in Patoka Lake incident

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of a man that occurred at Patoka Lake Sunday evening.

The body of Travis Ray St. Martin, 33, of Racine, Wisconsin, was recovered by conservation officer public safety divers last night at approximately 7:34 p.m., after he went missing in the water.

Yesterday, at approximately 2:51 p.m., a conservation officer was on boat patrol on the lake when witnesses alerted him to a possible drowning, and he immediately responded. Multiple 911 calls came in shortly after, reporting that a man had disappeared in the water.

Investigation revealed that two females were aboard a towable tube affixed to a stationary rental boat by a rope when they fell off the tube and struggled to stay afloat.

Multiple people from the rental boat jumped into assist, and rescued one of the females. One of the people who jumped from the rental boat, St. Martin, disappeared under the water.

The other female from the tube, K’neisha Adams, 25, of Burke, Virginia, was rescued by a group of people from a separate boat. Adams was airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital and later released.

The Crawford County coroner’s office ruled the preliminary cause of death as accidental drowning. No alcohol or drugs were suspected to be contributing factors.

Although adequate life jackets were present on the rental boat, none were in use. Indiana Conservation Officers strongly encourage wearing a life jacket when recreating on or around bodies of water.

Bedford man arrested on DUI charge

On September 6, 2020, AT 12:13 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a 1999 Oldmobile that was traveling Southbound on US 41 from the Knox Gibson County Line. The vehicle was reported to be all over the roadway and was traveling at an extreme low rate of speed. Deputy Loren Barchett located the vehicle clocking it at 24 mph in a 60 mph zone and conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of US 41 and County Road 500 North. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Barchett could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver 44-year-old Kristin Lester of Bedford, Indiana. At that point Deputy Barchett began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Lester being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail Mr. Lester was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He remains in custody on a $650 bond.

Assisting Deputy Barchett in his investigation was Deputy Garett Tuley.

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Owensville man arrested on drug charge

On September 6, 2020, at 2:36 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a Black 2010 Mazda passenger car near the intersection of US 41 and Locust Street in Fort Branch. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith observed 23-year-old Michael Arbeiter of Owensville inside the vehicle. Deputy Smith had prior knowledge that Mr. Arbeiter had an outstanding warrant out of Gibson County for Theft, and at that point he detained Mr. Arbeiter and began a roadside investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Smith transported Mr. Arbeiter to the Gibson County Jail where he was held without bond on the Theft warrant and was charged with a new Possession of a Scheduled Substance Charge.

Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Princeton Officer Jason Swan and Gibson County Sergeant Bruce Vanoven.

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.