Sheriff James C. Sulsberger released the following:

January 20, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested Tina K. Smith, 36, Herrick, on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Petition to Revoke Probation on the original charge of Attempted Unlawful Acquisition of a Controlled Substance.  Bond set at $5,000.00.  Smith is currently incarcerated in the Clay County Jail.

January 20, Zachary A. Schafer, 28, Johnsonville, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Failure to Comply with a Court Order.  Bond set at $1,000.00.  Schafer posted $100.00 cash and was released.

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Chief John Nicholson releases the following information

On Jan. 11 Michael J. Utley, age 19, of Clay City was sentenced to serve three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

State's Attorney Marilyn D. Brant reports that Utley entered a plea of guilty to the charge of Burglary, a Class 2 Felony.  He was charged with entering the building of Sharon Shaw, doing business as The Price Is Right Consignment Shop located at 107 1st Street in Clay City, on April 29, 2009, with the intent to commit a theft.

Chief John Nicholson releases the following information:

Sheriff James C. Sulsberger released the following:

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced
today that Bradley K. Clark, doing business as U.S. Oil and gas technologies, based in Wayne County, Illinois, was sentenced on Monday, January 4, 2010, as a result of his conviction on two counts of Mail Fraud involving a scheme to defraud investors in an oil well venture. CLARK was sentenced to two years imprisonment, three years supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $343,796.

Chief John Nicholson releases the following information:

Dec. 18 through Jan. 3 the Flora Police Department participated in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s “You Drink & Drive. You Lose!” campaign.  

Sheriff James C. Sulsberger released the following:

Nov. 19, Jon D. Hanna, 27, Effingham, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of D.U.I.  Bond set at $3,000.00.  Hanna is currently in custody in the Effingham County Jail pending charges there.

Nov. 20, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested Jason G. Willis, 29, Flora, on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Delivery of Cannabis.  Bond set at $1,000.00.  Willis posted $100.00 cash and was released.

Nov. 20, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified of a motor vehicle accident at approximtaely 8:00 a.m. 1/2 mile east of the intersection of Gull Lane and Mockingbird Road.  Apparently a 1997 Chevrolet operated by Seth A. McElroy, 17, Farina,  was travelling east on Gull lane 1/2 mile east of Mockingbird Road when he failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway to the north and struck a tree.  No injuries reported, no citations issued.

Nov. 21, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified of an incident at approximately 12:56 a.m. at the intersection of Southwest Third Street and South Main Street in Clay City.  Apparently a 2002 GMC Van operated by Shari B. Hamilton, 47, Flora, was travelling south on South Main Street and was being followed closely by an unknown vehicle.  Hamilton pulled onto a side road to avoid this vehicle and stopped and driver of the unknown vehicle began to strike the Hamilton vehicle and then left the area.  No injuries reported.  Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to call the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Nov. 21, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested Carol D. Blankenship, 47, Louisville on an outstanding St. Clair County warrant for Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.  Bond set at $10,000.00.  Blankenship was transported to St. Clair County Jail.

Nov. 23, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified of a motor vehicle accident at approximately 3:30 p.m. 1/4 mile east of the Kinmundy Road and Bethel Drive intersection.  Apparently a 2001 Chevrolet, operated by Joel M. Hemphill, 27, Flora, travelling east on the Kinmundy Road lost control of his vehicle and ran off the road and overturned.  No injuries reported, no citations issued.

Nov. 25, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified of a motor vehicle accident at approximately 4:50 p.m. west of the interesection of Edgewood Road and Eider Road.  Apparently a 1988 operated by Tina M. Fender, 49, St. Elmo was travelling east on the Edgewood Road when she ran off the road into the embankment causing minimal damage.  No injuries reported, no citations issued. 

Nov. 28, Nicholas W. Daugherty, 21, Fairfield, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precusors.  Bond set at $2,000.00.  Daugherty posted $200.00 cash and was released.

Dec. 1, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested James Brian Johnson, 36, Mt. Carmel on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Petition to Revoked Probation.  Bond set at $15,000.00.  Johnson is currently incarcerated in the Clay County Jail.

Dec. 1, Larry J. Heath, 29, Olney, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appar on the original charge of Deceptive Practice.  Bond set at $5,000.00.  Heather posted $500.00 cash and was released.

THE CHARGE IS MERELY AN ACCUSATION AND THE DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.

Chief John Nicholson releases the following information:

Wednesday, December 2nd at 4:18 p.m. Michael L. Pittman, 53, of Flora was issued a citation for No Valid Registration following a traffic stop in the 400 block of East North Avenue. 

Thursday, December 3rd at 12:41 p.m. Anita E. Shaffer, 42, of Flora was issued citations for DUI, Improper Lane Usage and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol following a traffic stop at Vincennes and Meadowview. 

Thursday, December 3rd at 1:10 p.m. the department investigated an accident on the Sears parking lot involving a 2009 International operated by Oscar Ivan Narvaez, 36, of Ironwood, MI  and the loading dock.  No injuries were reported. 

Thursday, December 3rd at 2:13 p.m. the department investigated an accident on the Flora Bank and Trust parking lot involving a 1998 Chevrolet pickup operated by Trevor R. Pearce, 50, of Clay City and a 2000 Dodge Ram operated by Danny L. Kuhlig, 56, of Flora.  No injuries were reported. 

Saturday, December 5th at 2:40 p.m. the department investigated an accident on McDonald’s parking lot involving a 2003 Dodge Durango operated by Leslie E. Baker, 21, of Flora and a pedestrian Betty A. Dulaney, 72, of Clay City.  Dulaney received minor injuries. 

Sunday, December 6th at 1:08 a.m. Shawn D. Newbolds, 22, of Xenia was issued citations for Improper Lane Usage, DUI and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol following a traffic stop in the 300 block of West North Avenue. 

Sunday, December 6th at 6:54 p.m. Dean F. Rosspank, 20, of Flora was issued a citation for Loud Muffler following a traffic stop in the 200 block of W. Maple. 

All persons are merely accused of the charges against them and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. 

At a press conference at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Flora Police Chief John Nicholson announced that there would be no criminal charges filed at this time against Brian Pennington, who was identified as the owner of an American Pit Bull Terrier that attacked and killed 85-year-old Rosie Humphreys, of 235 Austin Avenue, last Monday afternoon.

Humphreys was killed when she was walking her two poodles shortly after 2:15 p.m., Monday, in the driveway of her Flora residence.

The timeline provided by the police indicated that Humphreys left her home at about 2:16 p.m.
“Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Humphreys and her dogs were attacked by Mr. Pennington’s dog. The attack occurred at the end of her driveway and the sidewalk area,” said Nicholson. “A passerby in the roadway observed the initial attack. The pit bull was observed by this witness to be attacking the poodles,  which Mrs. Humpheys was trying to protect by pulling her up to her chest area, all while kicking and striking the pit bull.”

This witness pulled over to assist Humphreys, who by this time had fallen to the ground and was being attacked by the pit bull. At that time the witness yelled for help and several people came to the scene to try to remove the dog from Humphreys.

At about 2:18 p.m., a call was placed to the Flora Police Department reporting the attack.
“The dog was eventually controlled and first aid was rendered to Mrs. Humphreys, unsuccessfully, as she was pronounced dead at the scene,” Nicholson said. “At this time the Flora Police Department secured the area as a crime scene and began an  investigation.”

The investigation included the Flora Police Department, Clay County Coroner Gary Bright and the Illinois State Police, who collected evidence at the crime scene.

The results of the investigation indicated that a metal “D” ring, on the brown leather collar that the dog was wearing, failed.

“The collar was a brown leather collar of normal wear and of normal weight for this type of dog,” Nicholson said. “Mr. Pennington’s dog was estimated to weigh approximately 60 pounds.”

The results of an autopsy that was performed Tuesday at the Clay County Hospital by Dr. John Heidingsfelder showed that Humphreys died from exsanguination, or bleeding to death. The cause was determined, preliminarily, to be due to a transected carotid artery.

The death was ruled accidental.

The police have determined that the dog involved in the attack was a three-year-old, un-neutered, American Pit Bull Terrier.
“The dog had been purchased from a registered breeder at six months of age,” Nicholson said. “There is no available information that it had ever been trained by its owner, Brian Pennington to attack or fight in any manner. The dog was (the) Penningtons’ family pet.”

The police went on to say that neither they, or the Clay County Health Department Animal Control office had ever received any calls about the dog. They also did not find any evidence that the dog displayed aggression towards people or other dogs.

“The dog did not appear to be malnourished or abused and had no visible signs of mistreatment,” Nicholson said. “The dog, according to several neighbors, seemed friendly and was not habitually loose.”

The dog was apparently still chained at about 11:15 a.m., when the dogs owner witnessed him in his house’s kennel area.

Sometime by 2 p.m. The dog had gotten loose and was witnessed wandering the neighborhood. “One particular witness was working in his garage when Mr. Pennington’s dog came into the garage with him,” Nicholson said. “The witness stated the dog acted friendly and showed no signs of aggression. The dog then left the garage.”

There were no reports called in to the Flora Police or Animal Control about the dog running loose.
Shortly thereafter, Humphreys was attacked.

Nicholson reiterated that what happened Monday was a tragedy for the families involved, the neighborhood and the entire community.

“Rosie L. Humphreys … was not only a citizen of Flora, but much more to so many. After speaking to several neighbors and friends in this neighborhood, it became apparent that Rosie was everybody’s grandmother with that area,” Nicholson said. “This is exactly why this case is so tragic.”

Chief John Nicholson releases the following information:

Tuesday, November 24th at 4:00 a.m. the department investigated an accident in the 300 block of N. Stanford involving a 2008 Dodge Caravan operated by Tammy J. Propes, 32, of Flora and a deer.  No injuries were reported. 

Wednesday, November 25th at 11:28 a.m. Richard M. Morray, 52, of Flora was issued citations for Disobeyed Stop Sign and Failure to Wear Seat Belt following a traffic stop at Worthey and 3rd Street.

Wednesday, November 25th at 7:56 p.m. the department investigated an accident on Huck’s Parking lot involving a 2007 Pontiac G6 operated by Lindsey D. West, 26, of Flora and a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass operated by Jessica R. Highsmith, 18, of Flora.  No injuries were reported. 

Thursday, November 26th at 1:02 a.m. Charles L. Jones, 44, of Kansas City, MO was issued citations for Improper Lane Usage, Improper Turn, Illegal Transportation of Alcohol and DUI following a traffic stop at N. State and Gary Hagen Drive. 

Friday, November 27th at 12:00 p.m. the department investigated an accident in the 800 block of Rio Grande involving a 1994 GMC Carryall owned by Madie J. Senters of Flora and an unknown vehicle. 

Friday, November 27th at 4:10 p.m. Melissa R. Caudle, 34, of Flora was issued a citation for Operation of Motor Vehicle with Registration Suspended following a traffic stop in the 100 block of E. 2nd.

Saturday, November 28th at 8:00 a.m. Bryan T. Oestreich, 23, of Flora was arrested for Battery following an incident in the 8000 block of Old Highway 50. 

Saturday, November 28th at 12:12 p.m. Anita E. Shaffer, 42, of Flora was issued citations for DUI and Leaving the Scene of Accident with Vehicle Damage in the 600 block of E. 4th Street. 

Saturday, November 28th at 12:59 p.m. the department investigated an accident at 12th and Worthey involving a 1997 Plymouth Voyager operated by Loretta Kistner, 49, of Fairfield and a 2001 Ford Ranger operated by Rachel L. Huffman, 32, of Flora.  Kistner suffered minor injuries. 

Saturday, November 28th at 5:25 p.m. Mike E. Guinn, 33, of Flora was issued a citation for Disobeying Traffic Control Device following a traffic stop at N. Main and N. Avenue. 

Saturday, November 28th at 6:55 p.m. the department investigated an accident in the 400 block ofLincoln involving a 1998 Chevrolet pickup operated by a 16 year old male and a 2008 Thomas Built School Bus operated by Alan D. Dunahee, 44, of Clay City.  No injuries were reported. 

Wednesday, November 25th at 11:00 p.m. Steven W. Phillips, 48, of Clay City was issued citations for DUI and Improper Lane Usage following a traffic stop at S. Stanford and Vincennes. 

Tuesday, December 1st at 8:32 a.m. the department investigated an accident at Casey’s involving a 1997 Ford F150 operated by Gene Krutsinger, 73, of Flora and a parked 1997 Chevrolet S-10 pickup owned by Gary’s Auto Sales of Flora.  No injuries were reported. 

All persons are merely accused of the charges against them and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.