Police News 09-25-14
Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest (Canton, IL) -- A Marietta woman is facing drug charges after Canton police conducted a traffic stop earlier this week. Police say they stopped the vehicle for failing to signal when required at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Walnut Street Monday night at just after 7:30. The driver of the vehicle was a 19-year old Marietta male. 42-year old Michelle L. Stufflebeam was a backseat passenger and officers at the scene say she was acting suspicious in the back seat, moving around. Police conducted a search and found that Stufflebeam was in possession of Hydrocodone as well as Diazepam. The pills were found in Stufflebeam's purse. She was arrested and taken to the Canton Police Department where she was processed on a charge of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She was later taken to the Fulton County Jail in Lewistown.
Bradley Player Enters Not Guilty Plea To Battery Charges (Peoria, IL) -- A basketball player at Bradley University was in Peoria County Circuit Court on Wednesday to enter a not guilty plea to misdemeanor domestic battery charges. Austin Barnes was arrested last week and charged for allegedly using his hands to grab and then eventually knock down a woman last month. The woman allegedly suffered an injury to her right elbow. Barnes is a senior on the Bradley basketball team.
Five Arrested In Prostitution Sting (Peoria, IL) -- Authorities in Peoria say they arrested five women in connection with a prostitution sting earlier this week. The arrests of 45-year old Ann A. Smith, 50-year old Tina Ware, 36-year old Granita Jones, 42-year old Royan Willis and 31-year old Elizabeth Stovall all took place either early Tuesday morning or early Wednesday morning. In all, Peoria police have arrested 10 people for prostitution over the summer months. Authorities say that the arrests are part of a special detail that started because of an increase of suspicious activity during the night time hours.
Normal Man Sentenced (Normal, IL) -- A Normal man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after his conviction on federal drug charges. Prosecutors say 35-year-old George Martin was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana. His arrest was a part of Operation Prairie Eagle. The federal sting operation has convicted 22 people so far.
Davenport Police Chief Hits Woman In Wheelchair (Davenport, IA) -- Iowa State Patrol is investigating after the Davenport Police Chief hit a wheelchair bound woman with a car. Chief Frank Donchez was driving a city vehicle Monday morning when he went to turn onto Harrison Street. During the turn, Donchez hit a woman in a wheelchair crossing the street. Police say the woman had a guide dog with her at the time. She was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and has since been released.