State's Attorney Statement On Officer Involved Shooting

From Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman:

As your Wabash County State’s Attorney I want to express my deepest sympathies to those involved in the tragic October 10, 2024 officer-involved shooting as well as update the public on the status of the investigation.

As has been previously announced, the Illinois State Police were immediately contacted to investigate the events of October 10th . My office is working with the ISP as they continue this investigation, which remains ongoing. While substantial work has been done, additional investigative tasks remain. I do not know precisely when the investigation will be concluded, but I know that the investigators are working diligently and have made this a top priority.

Once it is complete, the investigative materials will be provided to my office for review. I would like the public to know there will be complete transparency regarding this investigation. I intend to timely release body camera footage and related information so that the community can be fully informed. Finally, I would like to thank the public for their patience and assure everyone that answers are forthcoming.

Oakland City man arrested for strangulation

On October 17, 2024, at 8:38 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a disturbance in the 12000 block E Harrison Street in Oakland City.  Deputy James Tucker and Oakland City Police Officer John Pace arrived in the area and began an investigation into the incident.  After speaking with all parties involved in the incident Deputy Tucker placed 42 year old Ryan Logston of Oakland City into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Logston was charged with Battery and Strangulation. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Jury Acquits Mt. Carmel Man On All Counts

30 year old Jordan Evans is a free man after a Wabash County Jury on Wednesday found him not guilty of three felony counts related to an alleged altercation with an Illinois State Police trooper last year.

Evans faced a Class 2 felony charge of aggravated intimidation, a Class 4 felony charge of aggravated assault; and a Class X charge of armed violence, which carried a possible prison term of 6 to 30 years.

During the one day trial, Trooper Adrian Meyer was state’s attorney Kelli Storckman’s first witness. He testified that on November 5th of last year, he was at the Wash ‘n Go Car Wash on West 9th Street when Evans approached him and threatened and intimidated him verbally and aggressively displayed a hatchet Evans had attached to his pants. Meyer said  he and Evans are both from Lawrence County originally and knew each other casually from their school days.

Evans testified this afternoon he was friends in school with Meyer’s wife and had simply approached Meyer at the car wash hoping to say hello to his wife. Evans said Meyer’s testimony was wrong in the fact he didn’t have a hatchet attached to his pants and instead had it laying in his car from a planned hiking trip. He claimed he never threatened Meyer in any way.

In addition to Meyer and Evans, the only other witnesses to testify today were former Mt. Carmel Police officer Daniel Hopper, and 911 dispatcher Mary Sweppy.

The jury began their deliberations just before 3:30pm and returned the verdict in about 30 minutes.

Evans was represented by public defender Bill Easton….

Evans had been held in the Wabash County Jail awaiting trial and following the not guilty verdicts, Judge Denton Aud ordered he immediately be released from custody.

In a separate case, Evans still faces felony charges of threatening a public official and calling a false alarm or complaint to 911 along with a misdemeanor assault charge. A pretrial conference on those charges was set for November 25th.

Jury Seated In Trial Of Mt. Carmel Man

Opening statements will be heard Wednesday morning in the trial of 30 year old Jordan Evans in Wabash County Circuit Court. Evans is the Mt. Carmel man who was arrested last November for aggravated intimidation and armed violence following an incident at the 9th and Oak Street car wash. Police were called to that location when an off-duty Illinois State Trooper, who was attempting to clean their squad vehicle, requested assistance due to Evans approaching them while armed with a hatchet.  Evans allegedly threatened the trooper and made concerning comments about their family before leaving the scene in his vehicle.  Officers from the Mt. Carmel Police Department and a deputy from the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office located Evans parked at his residence while seated in the driver’s seat.  Evans was taken into custody without incident.  Officers located a hatchet in the front passenger seat as well as a box cutter in his pants pocket. 

A jury was seated this morning with opening statements from state’s attorney Kelli Storckman and public defender Bill Easton. The trial is expected to last just one day.

Oak Street Sidewalk Work To Start Soon

The long delayed sidewalk project on Oak Street will soon be completed. Public Works Director Mike Gidcumb told the city council yesterday that the Oak Street from 4th to 3rd Street will be next on the work docket as soon as the Cherry Street project is complete. He said the work will include access across 3rd Street. The street has been hazardous for pedestrians who have to walk in the street without the presence of sidewalks there. Gidcumb also said city crews are preparing for leaf season with the leaf pickup routes set to begin early next month.

Wabash County Early Voting Information

NOTICE

EARLY VOTING DATES

Public Notice is hereby given that “Early Voting” in

Wabash County shall be conducted prior to the

November 5, 2024 General Election at a temporary

polling site in the County Clerk’s Office in the

Courthouse, 401 Market Street, Mt. Carmel for:

Precincts #1 through #16

on the following dates:

Thursday, September 26th – Friday, September 27th

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Monday, September 30th – Friday, October 4th

8:00 am – 4:0

Monday, October 7th – Friday, October 11th

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Tuesday, October 15th – Friday, October 18th

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Monday, October 21st – Friday, October 25th

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Monday, October 28th – Friday, November 1st

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Saturday, November 2nd

9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Monday, November 4th

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

State law requires the election authority to verify the

signature of the Early Voter. Voters do not need a

reason for “Early Voting” but Early Voters are

prohibited from voting at the polls on Election Day.

Please call the Wabash County Clerk’s Office for

any questions regarding Early Voting. 618-262-4561.

Janet L. Will

Wabash County Clerk

Evansville man arrested during traffic stop

On October 15, 2024, at 4 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Michael Bates conducted a traffic stop on a White 2023 Hyundai Tucson for speeding in the area of CR 550 East and CR 500 South.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Bates detected the odor of Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle while speaking with the driver 24 year old KeShawn Bolton of Evansville.  At that point Deputy Bates began a roadside investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation he placed Mr. Bolton into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Driving While Suspended/Prior, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia. 
 
Assisting Deputy Bates in his investigation was Deputy Levi Sims.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Mount Carmel man arrested for never having a valid license

On October 14, 2024, at 11:02 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell conducted a traffic stop on a Black 2016 Chevy pickup for speeding on State Road 64 near County Road 275 West.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Powell identified the driver as 25 year old Rodin Vazquez Garcia of Mount Carmel.  During the roadside encounter it was discovered that Mr. Garcia had never been issued a valid operator’s license.  At that point Deputy Powell placed Mr. Garcia into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Never Licensed. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MCPD Chief Comments On Officer Involved Shooting

At yesterday’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting, Police Chief Mike McWilliams addressed Thursday night’s officer involved shooting that left 16 year Uriah Howder dead of a single gun shot wound to the chest…

McWilliams continued his comments with this…

Following the short six-minute open session of the meeting, the council adjourned into executive session in which they requested McWilliams to be a part of. No action was taken by the council following the executive session.