On Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 1:16 a.m. deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department responded to a residence in rural Thompsonville after dispatch had received a 911 call reporting an armed home invasion. 

The armed individual was an ex-boyfriend of the reporting party.  After a brief stand-off the armed individual was disarmed by another male inside the residence.  The suspect was taken into custody by Deputies and an AK47 style rifle was recovered.  There is no evidence the firearm was actually discharged during the incident, even though several people were threatened with it, including responding Deputies.

 Taken into custody was Lucas C. Boyd age 24 of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  Boyd is being held on tentative charges of home invasion with a firearm (Class X felony), aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4 felony), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (Class A misdemeanor), and resisting arrest (Class A misdemeanor).  Boyd is in the Franklin County Jail and is being held without bond pending review by the State’s Attorney’s Office and the setting of bond by the Circuit Court.

MEDIA RELEASE

4-27-18 at 5:00 pm Deputies responded to a private property A.T.V. crash at the Diesel Mud Park located southwest of Zeigler, south of Il. Rt. 149.  Billy M. Reed age 63 of Benton received major injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S.

4-27-18 at 5:40 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. Rt.14 just east of Rend City Road.  A 1995 Chevrolet 1500 Pick-Up truck pulling a trailer was westbound on Rt. 14 and attempted to negotiate a left turn onto a gravel lane.  A 2002 Ford Pick-Up driven by John D. Gulley age 39 of Benton, struck the trailer and Jon Boat being carried by the trailer.  There were no injuries and the driver of the Chevrolet, William J. Wysong age 35 of Thompsonville was ticketed for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.

4-27-18 at 7:24 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle motorcycle crash on Yellow Banks Road ¼ mile west of Hill City Road.  A 2009 Harley Davidson driven by Steven A. Hagston age 53 of West Frankfort was eastbound when he stated he lost control after swerving to avoid a dog.  The motorcycle left the roadway and overturned.  The driver was transported by Abbott E.M.S. with major injuries.

4-27-18 at 10:18 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on Il. Rt. 34 near Liles Road.  A 2017 Nissan driven by Bridgette A. Williams age 45 of Thompsonville was traveling west bound on Rt. 34 when the driver stated that a deer ran out in front of her.  She served to avoid the deer, lost control, left the roadway and overturned.  The driver suffered major injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S.

4-28-18 at 4:51 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. Rt. 37 at Forest Baptist Church Road.  A 2005 Hyundai driven by Nathan S. Smith age 18 of Carterville, was southbound on Rt. 37 and struck the rear end of a 2015 Chevrolet driven by Hannah G. Goffinet age 16 of Benton, who was attempting to negotiate a right turn onto Forest Baptist Church Road.  There were no injuries and Nathan Smith was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash and for operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

4-28-18 at 11:30 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Benton that resulted in the arrest of Cheryl L. Strickler age 48 of Benton for domestic battery.

4-29-18 at 1:04 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in Thompsonville.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of Mirya L. Melvin age 35 of Benton for domestic battery.

4-29-18 at 1:29 am Deputies investigated a traffic incident in Buckner that resulted in the arrest of Dakota R. Gregge age 23 of Buckner for driving under the influence of alcohol.

4-29-18 at 12:28 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Benton.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of Sharazad Askoorochi age 61 of Benton for aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

WARRANT ARRESTS

4-28-18 Charles R. Mariano age 61 of West Frankfort.  Failure to appear on traffic charges.

4-29-18 James M. Laur age 39 of Sesser.  Failure to appear for domestic battery.

4-30-18 Brittani S. Anderson age 31 of Herrin.  Failure to appear on traffic charges.

5-2-18 Stefany J. Webb age 37 of Marion.  Failure to appear for theft.

5-2-18 Debbie K. Copher age 45 of Orient.  Delivery of a controlled substance.

5-4-18 Andrew C. Roberson age 29 of West Frankfort.  Failure to appear for domestic battery.

The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Illinois state senators passed an amended bill Wednesday that would require lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history to be taught in public schools.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Illinois is still seeing high poverty rates.

An annual report from the Heartland Alliance’s shows that 1.6 million Illinois residents are considered to be living in poverty as of 2016. That’s still higher than pre-recession levels, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it’s about 14 percent of the state’s total population.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.