Sheriff Activity

COUNT Y NEWS

Sheriff ’s depar tment warns of new scam involving customers

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Department has received multiple reports recently of a phone scam targeting Byron Bank customers.

“The scam involves a person contacting people with the caller ID reading Byron Bank, and the caller claiming to be an employee of the bank,” the sheriff’s department said in a Facebook post. “The caller advises of possible fraudulent activity on their account, and then obtains information from the victim that gives them access to the bank account. Victims have reported a monetary loss between a few hundred and several thousand dollars.

“Please be aware that your bank, regardless of where that is, will never call you and ask for personal information regarding your account over the phone. Should you question the legitimacy of a call, hang up the phone and contact your bank directly.”

For additional information, contact the sheriff’s department at 815-732-1101.

Sherif f announces St. Patrick ’s Day enforcement campaig n results

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office made 12 arrests and issued 95 citations during the St. Patrick’s Day enforcement campaign.

“We strongly enforce traffic laws for one reason – to save lives,” S h e r i f f B r i a n V a n V i c k l e s a i d. “Encouraging sober driving and seat belt use improves safety for all.”

Deputies issued citations for numerous offenses, including: • Two arrests for driving while under the influence; • 10 arrests for driver’s license violations (no/suspended/revoked driver’s license); • 39 citations for speeding; • Eight citations for no insurance; • 10 citations for registration violations; • One citation for distracted driving (using a cellphone); • One citation for illegal transportation of alcohol; • Seven citation for improper lane usage; • Five citations for equipment violations; • Nine citations for other moving violations.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket efforts started March 11 and ran through the early hours of March 18, VanVickle said.

The goal was to keep impaired drivers off the roads and to ensure more people buckle up and follow all traffic safety laws, he said.

The sheriff’s office joined forces with state and local enforcement and highway safety partners for the enforcement campaign, which was made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF ACTIVIT Y

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity:

March 21

Mark Ellena, 57, of Leaf River, was arrested for criminal damage to property. Deputies responded to a residence in the 2000 block of West Myrtle Road at approximately 5:44 p.m. for a report of criminal damage to a vehicle. Ellena was arrested after an investigation and transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

March 23

Kevin Childley, 59, of Rochelle, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after a two-vehicle crash. Deputies responded to the intersection of South Skare and East Cottonwood roads at approximately 3:50 p.m. An investigation showed that Childley’s vehicle was eastbound on East Cottonwood Road when he disregarded the stop sign at East Skare Road. Childley’s vehicle entered the intersection where it struck a southbound vehicle driven by Patrick Hochstein, 38, of Franklin Grove. Childley and Hochstein refused medical attention at the scene. Childley was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. Childley also was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and disregarding a stop sign.

March 24

Blake Cohoon, 37, of Stillman Valley, was arrested for driving while license revoked after a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Hickory Street in Stillman Valley at approximately 5:30 p.m. Cohoon was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Michael Bear, 29, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license revoked and unlawful possession of cannabis after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 near mile marker 113 northbound at approximately 10:46 p.m. Bear also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and illegal window tint. Bear was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. While deputies still were on the scene of the initial traffic stop, a second vehicle arrived. After an investigation of the second vehicle, Thi Ha, 25, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Ha was released on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

March 25

Tyrone Pearson Jr., 40, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license revoked after deputies checked a vehicle parked on the shoulder of Illinois Route 64 near Interstate 39 at approximately 6:53 a.m. Pearson was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

March 26

Doris S. Medina, 30, of Rockford, was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting a peace officer and an active Rockford Police Department arrest warrant for assault/domestic battery. At approximately 9:18 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a driving complaint on a westbound Cadillac sedan on Illinois Route 72 from Stillman Valley. The person reporting the complaint provided the Cadillac’s registration, which revealed the vehicle to be one stolen from Rockford earlier in the day. Deputies located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at Route 72 and North Kishwaukee Road. Medina was taken into custody and transported to the Ogle County Jail where she was held with no bond. The Cadillac was released to the owner on scene.

March 27

Osman Omar Avila Meza, 28, of Elgin, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop at Illinois Route 64 and Interstate 39 at approximately 10:25 p.m. Avila Meza was taken into custody without incident and released on scene on a $2,500/10% I-Bond and a return court date. Avila Meza also was cited for illegal window tint and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

March 28

Acquianetta James, 31 of Rockford, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. for driving while license suspended following a traffic stop on I-39 at mile marker 111. James was also issued a citation for loud exhaust. James was released on an I-Bond with a return court date later next month.

At approximately 9:57 p.m., deputies attempted to stop a vehicle in the 5000 block of North Illinois Route 26. The vehicle fled and was later stopped near the intersection of Chestnut Ave and Spruce St in Forreston.

After further investigation Tyquan Spearman, 18 of Freeport, was arrested for aggravated fleeing to elude a police officer and resisting a peace officer. A passenger in the vehicle, Derrick Gibson, 24 of Freeport, was arrested for resisting a peace officer. Spearman was also cited for speeding, improper lane usage, and disobeying a traffic control device.

Spearman was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was held pending an appearance before a judge. Gibson was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was held in lieu of bail.