Two Killed In Effingham County Crash

ISP INVESTIGATES FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12

WHAT: Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE: Illinois Route 33 at County Road 1300N, just east of Effingham, Effingham County.

WHEN: Sept. 15, 2021, at 2:59 p.m.

VEHICLES: Unit 1 – Maroon 2014 Buick Lacrosse

Unit 2 – Black 2003 Chevrolet Silverado

DRIVERS:

Unit 1 – Ronald W. Kyle, an 82-year-old male from Shumway, IL – Deceased.

Unit 2 – Ryan D. Wendt, a 36-year-old male from Effingham, IL – Airlifted to a regional hospital with serious injuries.

PASSENGER:

Unit 1 – Sally L. Kyle, an 81-year-old female from Shumway, IL – Deceased.

PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling westbound on Illinois Route 33 at County Road 1300N in Effingham County. Unit 2 was traveling eastbound on Illinois Route 33 in the same area. For an unknown reason, Unit 1 crossed the center line into the westbound lane and struck Unit 2. Both occupants of Unit 1 were pronounced deceased. The driver of Unit 2 was airlifted to a regional hospital with serious injuries.

The ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit (TCRU) is continuing the investigation. No further information will be disseminated at this time.

Mt. Carmel Man Jailed For Delivery Of Meth

On 9/14/21, Heath T. Winebarger, age 32, was arrested in rural Wabash County by an Illinois Department of Conservation Police Officer on a Wabash County Warrant for (2) counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine. This warrant stems from a Mt. Carmel Police investigation into the illegal sale of narcotics in Mt. Carmel. Winebarger was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued the warrant and held on a $4000 cash bond.

Boy Seriously Injured, Driver Charged Following Incident At Casey's

On 9/15/21 at 9:48pm, Dispatch advised of a call from Casey’s General Store reporting a child had been struck by a vehicle in the parking lot. Officers and Wabash General Ambulance Service responded to the scene where it was discovered an 8 year old male had been struck by a 2001 green Dodge Ram operated by Aaron D. Sutton, age 18, of Mt. Carmel.

According to witnesses accounts, Sutton was traveling at a high rate of speed through the parking lot when the juvenile ran from in front of his parent’s vehicle, parked at the gas pump, towards the store as Sutton drove through the lot. The juvenile was struck and dragged forward while pinned under the truck. The child was transported to the Wabash General Hospital with significant injuries from the collision.

Sutton was charged with Reckless Driving although this case is still under investigation and more charges are likely.

The Wabash County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the incident.

Alleged Stolen Tire Leads To Meth Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man

On 09/09/21, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Mitchell M. Clore, age 42, of Mt. Carmel, on charges of Theft and Possession of Methamphetamine. Officers were dispatched to a theft of a tire at a residence in the 200 block of Poplar St. Officers received information that the stolen tire was located behind a residence in the 1300 block of N Cherry St. When officers arrived, they located Clore next to his vehicle and the alleged stolen tire. Also located, was an orange pill bottle that contained approximately 9 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Clore was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge.

Mt. Carmel Man Arrested After Being Found Inside MCPD Officer's Vehicle

On 9/15/21, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Dylan J. Foote, age 29, of Mt. Carmel, for Burglary, Unlawful Use of Weapon by Felon, and Felony Theft following an incident in the 200 block of N Market Street. Officers were dispatched to this location to a report of an individual burglarizing a vehicle, which happened to belong to a Mt. Carmel Police Officer. Upon arrival, Foote was found inside the vehicle with items taken from the vehicle on his person. Foote was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he is being held pending a bond setting by a judge.

Mt. Carmel Woman Picked Up On Aggravated Battery Warrant

On 9/05/21, Mt. Carmel Police served Jade L. McClane, age 34, of Mt. Carmel, on a Wabash County Warrant for Aggravated Battery after she was discovered behind a business in the 700 block of N Walnut St. McClane was taken to the Wabash County Jail where she was issued the warrant and later released on a Notice to Appear.

Jasper Man Arrested After Lengthy Child Molest Investigation

In October of 2020, Master Trooper Jarrod Lents initiated an investigation into allegations of improper sexual contact between an adult male and a female under the age of 14.  During the nearly year long investigation, probable cause was developed that Mauricio Bolanos, age 20 of Jasper, had sexual relations in early 2020 with a female under the age of 14.  Bolanos was over the age of 18 at the time of the interactions. 

On September 10th, 2021, a warrant was issued from the Dubois Circuit Court, charging Mauricio Bolanos with:

• Child Molesting – level 3 felony

• Sexual Misconduct with a Minor- level 5 felony

On September 13th, 2021, Troopers Lents and Villanueva located Bolanos at his residence in Jasper.  He was arrested without incident and transported to the Dubois County Jail.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

County Board Hears Pitch To Get Probation Office More Space And Staff

The Wabash County probation office has the least amount of staff and operates in an extremely cramped office at the courthouse…and that needs to change. That was the message conveyed to county commissioners at their recent meeting as Chief Probation Officer Ryan Ruble spelled out the hardships Wabash County probation officer Judy Lewis works.

According to Ruble, the probation office is required to keep records for a minimum of 5 years causing a large amount of files to pile up in Lewis’s small office. In addition, filing cabinets with confidential probation records are being stored in a nearby conference room potentially compromising the privacy of individuals in the information.

Ruble said the statewide mandate to bring the justice system to community corrections means more people on probation and an even larger burden on Lewis’s office in terms of workload and space.

The Wabash County probation office is currently the only office in Ruble’s jurisdiction that doesn’t employ at least an administrative assistant. For example, the probation office in Edwards County is currently dealing with 90 cases and has two people on staff; in White County, a staff of 4 handles 233 cases while Wabash County has just Lewis on staff working 124 cases by herself.

Another offshoot of the lack of staff is that Ruble said those charged with a misdemeanor in Wabash County aren’t put on probation because of the lack of staff to supervise them….

Ruble also said Lewis makes very few home visits which he said were critical in the new era of community corrections.

Following Ruble’s presentation, county commissioners took no action on expanding the staff or space in the probation office saying they would look into the issue further and see what the county’s finances were able to allow.

Sentencing Set Next Month For Mt. Carmel Man

An October sentencing date has been set for a Mt. Carmel man arrested twice earlier this year for failing to register as a sex offender. James Catt was arrested in January and May at his residence in the 11-00 block of West 3rd Street after officers found Catt had failed to comply with the terms of his registry, which resulted in his arrest. During an appearance yesterday in Wabash County Circuit Court, Catt pled guilty to the two Class 2 felonies. His case was scheduled to go a jury trial on October 4th, but instead, Catt will now be sentenced on October 25th.  

Mt. Carmel Man Dead Following Weekend Crash

On 9/11/21 at 11:17 a.m., Mt. Carmel Police responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident at the intersection of South Cherry Street and Beauchamp Street. Upon police arrival, they found that a maroon 2003 Ford Taurus had collided with a large dirt mound on the south side of the intersection, went airborne, rolled over its passenger side, and came to rest on wheels sustaining significant damage. The driver, identified as Zachary R. Spruell, age 20, of Mt. Carmel, was found deceased due to apparent injuries from the vehicle crash. It appears the incident happened sometime overnight and was not discovered until the following day due to the location of the vehicle crash. Mt. Carmel Police were assisted by the Wabash County Coroner’s Office and the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office.