Police News 06-25-14

Industrial Accident In Pekin Leaves Two Dead (Pekin, IL) -- Authorities in Pekin say that two workers at Agridyne LLC died as a result of a chemical incident on Tuesday. The two were apparently cleaning a tanker car that contained a small amount of corn-based liquid when one of the two men fell inside the tanker at about noon yesterday. Authorities say that that is when the second worker then entered the tanker to rescue the first worker that fell in. Both men were then overcome by carbon monoxide fumes that had built up in the tanker car. The worker who attempted to rescue the first worker was pronounced dead at the scene, while the first worker that fell into the tanker car was taken to Pekin Hospital where he was pronounced dead about an hour later. The incident remains under investigation by Pekin Police. Also the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA is also looking into the incident. Two Facing Charges After Traffic Stop In Canton (Canton, IL) -- Two people were cited following a traffic stop that occurred in Canton over the weekend, Canton police say they stopped a vehicle Sunday morning at just before 12:15 after they observed it going northbound in the 0 block of White Court. White court is a one way street for southbound traffic only. Officers say they made the stop on East Elm Street at the intersection with 1st Avenue. After making the stop, the driver was identified as 25-year old Freddie J. Hager of Little York, Illinois. Officers detected an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. They say Hager was unable to provide proof of insurance. Police say they observed two open cans of beer in the vehicle. A passenger in the vehicle was also identified as 21-year old Brianna K. Pierce of Monmouth. In addition to a citation for driving a motor vehicle without insurance, Hager was also cited for illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver and driving the wrong way on a Street. Pierce was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol by a passenger. Both were given notice to appears and released at the scene. Both Hager and Pierce were also given August Fulton County Court dates in Lewistown. Argument At Downtown Businesses Leads To Canton Mans Arrest (Canton, IL) -- A Canton man is facing charges after police were dispatched to a complaint about an argument that had occurred at two downtown area businesses. Police say they met with the victim, a 53-year old Canton man, who told them he had been arguing with an unknown male subject at Jack's Bar early Saturday morning and that the argument then resumed at Elm Street Cafe' later that morning. Police say the victim told them that he had gone outside of the cafe' to smoke and when he returned inside the suspect approached him and patted him on the back. A witness at Elm Street Cafe' told police that the suspect had biscuits and gravy on his hand when he patted the victim on the back and smeared it on the victims back. Police later met with the suspect, identified as 27-year old Zane T. Kirkpatrick. He confirmed to police that he had argued with the victim at both Jack's and Elm Street Cafe but told police he did not know that he had the biscuits and gravy on his hand when he patted the victim on the back. Kirkpatrick was given a city ordinance citation for disorderly conduct. He will have 14 days to pay a fine. If the fine is not paid, Kirkpatrick will then have a September Fulton County Court date in Lewistown.

Band Director In Peoria Indicted By Grand Jury (Peoria, IL) -- The band director at Roosevelt Magnet School has been indicted by a Peoria County Grand Jury for having a sexual relationship with a student. 34-year old Maury Beelman was indicted on Tuesday and is facing charges of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Authorities say that the alleged relationship between Beelman and the girl started when the teen was in the 8th grade. Prosecutors say it didn't turn sexual until the girl was a sophomore in high school. It continued until her graduation. Beelman is expected back in Peoria County Circuit Court on Thursday. He remains in the Peoria County Jail on a $200,000 bond.