Springfield, Illinois – Two men were arrested and charged in connection with a home invasion after being located.

According to the Springfield Police, they were dispatched on December 29, 2023, to the 1200 block of S. 13th St. for an active home invasion. When officers arrived, the suspects had already left in a tan pick-up truck. One of the victims at the scene had a large cut on the back of his head, resulting from being struck multiple times with a pistol. He was then transported to Memorial Medical Center for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

A description of the vehicle was provided, and two of the three suspects were identified as Victor T. Bobo, age 49, and Manuel Rios, age 56. The suspect vehicle was later found at Circle K near 19th and North Grand, occupied by Bobo and the vehicle owner, Rios.

According to the victim, who was interviewed by detectives, a friend known as Manuel had come to his residence and told him he was kicked out of his house. As they were speaking on the front porch, two subjects approached them, and one of them had a pistol. The victim said he got into a wrestling match with the armed man on the front porch. The second suspect, whom the victim identified as Bobo, had entered the house and taken the phone from a woman who had called 911. When 911 called the phone back, Bobo took the phone and claimed they did not need help.

The victim continued in his statement, saying that Bobo told the woman to get on the ground, pulled her down, making her lay on her face, and it was believed that Bobo had a firearm. Bobo then removed the woman’s wallet from her purse and threw it on the living room floor. The report noted that the woman’s phone was taken and later found in the 1100 block of S. 13th St.

Rios left the porch, got into his truck, and the armed suspect, along with Bobo, fled the scene. The victim said Rios circled the block and picked up the other two suspects before fleeing the area.

According to the police, they were able to obtain video surveillance from the front porch, and it corroborated much of the victims’ statements. “It showed Rios speaking with the victim on the front porch. It appears Rios is looking to the corner of the residence, then moves as to draw the victims’ attention away from the two other suspects. Rios leaves the porch and walks towards his truck. It showed both suspects fighting with the victim and clearly shows the unidentified male carrying a firearm. He racks the slide of the firearm, which dislodged multiple bullets from the gun. The bullets were later recovered by officers on the scene. The unidentified male remains in the doorway of the residence, looking out the front door. Both Bobo and the unidentified suspects enter the home. Bobo pulls the victim by the arm into the home to prevent him from leaving the scene. Both suspects eventually flee northbound on foot from the residence.”

Detectives spoke with Bobo, and he admitted to being at the home invasion. He stated he was riding with Rios and another man that goes by the name “Charlie.” Bobo said Rios was going to the victim’s house to buy some cocaine. When they got to the house, Rios got out of the truck and went to the front porch, where he was speaking to the victim. While still in the truck, Charlie told him to come with him. That’s when they exited the truck and walked toward the house. Bobo told detectives that Charlie pulled out a gun and ran onto the porch. Bobo said he followed him and was told to handle the female in the house. Bobo, who was seen on camera holding what appears to be a female’s wallet, said that he had the wallet but did not get anything from it and threw it on the ground. Detectives reported that video confirmed that statement. Bobo said he went onto the porch where Charlie was on the ground struggling with the victim and tried to break them up. Detectives noted that Charlie can be seen on video striking the victim multiple times in the head with a gun.

At this time, Bobo and Rios were both arrested and taken to the Sangamon County Jail. They have both been charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Armed Robbery, a class X felony, and Theft, a class 3 felony.

At the time of publishing, there were no updates on the other suspect Charlie.

Stay tuned for updates on this story.

Springfield, Illinois – Springfield Police Officers were dispatched on Christmas Eve around 4:33 a.m. to the 1600 block of Seven Pines Road for a disturbance.

Springfield Police Officers Taylor and Farris reported that once they were at the door of the apartment, they could hear arguing through the door. Officer Taylor wrote that a female opened the door and advised they were in the back. Once they were inside the residence, they could hear yelling between two people in a back room, with one stating, ‘Stop, the police are here.’ When Officer Taylor opened the bedroom door to the apartment, he noticed a male and a female pushing each other while an older female was attempting to get between the two.

The male, identified as Laquan Q. Sibley, age 24, was placed in handcuffs and reportedly continued to yell at the female, identified as Kenyatta J. Appleton, age 22.

Officers spoke with Kenyatta, who stated nothing happened, and she only wanted Laquan removed from the residence. When Kenyatta was asked about the incident in the room, she advised it was only verbal, and nothing physical happened.

Officers spoke with Kenyatta’s mother, who was in the room between Laquan and Kenyatta. She told officers that the two began arguing shortly after Kenyatta let Laquan into the residence. The fight started verbally, but then they began pushing each other and hitting each other with closed fists. She said she began to step in between the two when they became physical, and that’s when the police arrived.

Kenyatta was then placed in handcuffs and escorted out of the residence. Once outside, she told officers that Laquan punched her in the right side of her face, and her cheek is now swollen. When Kenyatta was asked to have a picture taken of her injuries, she refused.

Laquan was read his Miranda Rights and told officers that he did not hit her; they were only arguing.

According to officers, this is the second domestic violence case between Kenyatta and Laquan. They have one child in common and have been separated for 3 months but were in a dating relationship for approximately 3 years before they broke up.

Both were taken to the Sangamon County Jail and released without charges.

Springfield, Illinois – A former candidate of the Springfield Police Department has filed a federal lawsuit against the department, alleging false arrest, wrongful detention, and malicious prosecution by officers. Anne Reeves claims that on October 21, 2022, Springfield Police Officers Jake Gray and Antwion Fairlee arrived at her residence, read her Miranda Rights, briefly spoke to her, handcuffed her, and placed her in the back of a police vehicle unlawfully. (BODY CAMERA VIDEOS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE)

According to Springfield Police Department reports from October 21, 2023, at around 5:53 p.m., Officers Jake Gray and Springfield Park District Police Officer Brian Crolly responded to a robbery at the intersection of Walnut and Edwards. They found a victim with a large cut on her face. The victim reported being picked up by Anne Reeves in a teal SUV, along with two others, identified as ‘Ms. B’ and her daughter. The victim alleged being attacked, pepper-sprayed, cut, and robbed during the incident.

In an attempt to locate Anne Reeves, officers searched local records, finding an address consistent with the victim’s statement. Springfield Police Officers Gray and Antwion Fairlee went to Anne’s address. According to Officer Gray’s report, they located a blue SUV, knocked on Anne’s door, and she answered. Anne quickly shut and locked the door, asking if she was in trouble. After Officer Gray assured her they only wanted to talk, Anne agreed to speak outside.

Officer Gray reported reading Anne her rights, and she stated understanding and willingness to talk. Anne claimed she and two others picked up the victim earlier in the SUV. Anne mentioned a disturbance in the parking lot of Westminster Presbyterian Church but denied any cutting or pepper spraying.

At this point, Anne stated that she was going to return to the residence, to which Officer Gray responded by informing her that she could not and that he would be detaining her in handcuffs. Officer Gray reported that Anne immediately raised her hands in the air and backed away, insisting that he could not detain her. He advised Anne that he would, indeed, detain her, grabbing her right arm to move her hand to her back. Anne tensed her arm, resisting the movement, prompting Officer Gray to instruct her not to resist. He proceeded to place Anne’s hand behind her back, but she pulled away, tucking her hands and arms close to her body.

Anne then urgently expressed her willingness to comply if allowed to sit down. Officer Fairlee and Officer Gray assisted Anne into a seated position, but she continued to tuck her arms towards her torso and pull away. Officer Fairlee eventually placed Anne on her stomach, where she tucked her arms underneath herself. Officer Gray warned Anne that she would be tased if she did not comply. After several warnings, Anne eventually stopped resisting.

Officer Gray secured Anne in handcuffs and placed her in the back of Officer Fairlee’s squad car. While escorting Anne to the vehicle, she continued to pull away and yell for her husband to come outside.

Officer Gray reported that he then spoke with Anne’s husband, Justin, who was also a candidate for the Springfield Police Department, to update him on the situation, noting that Justin seemed surprised. Officer Gray asked Justin for consent to search his vehicle for evidence of the robbery, such as pepper spray residue, blood, or a cutting instrument. Justin initially denied consent, but upon being informed that the vehicle would be towed for investigative purposes, he consented to the search. Officer Gray reported that the search didn’t find any evidence of the robbery.

Due to Anne being positively identified as the driver of the vehicle during the robbery, Anne’s address being consistent with the victim’s statements, Anne’s phone number being listed as the same number that the victim called her from, Anne stating under Miranda that she and two other subjects matching the description given by the victim were in her vehicle in the parking lot and involved in some kind of physical disturbance, and Anne resisting officers as they detained her, Officer Gray arrested Anne for armed robbery, aggravated battery, and resisting.

Anne was taken to Sangamon County Jail, where two days later, on October 23, 2022, she was given a bond. According to Anne’s attorneys, she was unable to post the bond and remained in the County Jail until the following day when the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office decided not to file charges, leading to her release from Sangamon County Jail. “There was no just cause to arrest Anne, continue to detain her, or charge her with violating any laws,” stated her attorney, Peter T. Sadelski, of Ed Fox & Associates, a law firm in Chicago, Illinois.”

Springfield Police Detectives were assigned to this case days later. Based on their investigative notes, they attempted to contact the victim numerous times to get her statement regarding the case, but were unsuccessful. Additionally, the Detectives noted in their investigative reports that the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office advised them that they had not filed charges and did not intend to pursue the case due to inconsistent information. Consequently, the case was closed.

However, the case didn’t stop there for Anne. On January 13, 2023, she withdrew her candidacy from the Springfield Police Department, and five months later, she filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Springfield and Springfield Police Officers Gray and Fairlee. The lawsuit is still pending.

We have been informed that there was an Internal Affairs investigation; however, the City of Springfield, which has lost numerous lawsuits for refusing to release internal affairs documents that are typically public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, continues to withhold them. Currently, we have appealed their decision to the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor and are awaiting a response.

(VIDEO ABOVE) A woman informed Springfield Police Officers that she had been robbed. Reeves, who was arrested after police alleged that she was the suspect, withdrew her candidacy. She then filed a federal lawsuit against the Springfield Police Department, alleging they unlawfully detained and arrested her.

(VIDEO ABOVE) Body Camera Video from Springfield Police Officer Jake Gray shows the arrest of Anne Reeves

(VIDEO ABOVE) Body Camera Video from Springfield Police Officer Antwion Fairlee shows the arrest of Anne Reeves

(VIDEO ABOVE) An additional Body Camera Video from an unknown Springfield Police Officer which shows the victim giving her statement to Springfield Police Officers

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield woman was arrested for violating an order of protection by throwing a bottle with the top on fire into the yard of someone protected by the order. The bottle was later identified as a homemade Molotov cocktail. This incident occurred after she had already been charged with arson, marking the second time she was suspected in an arson case involving the same person.

Springfield Police Officers Walter and Bard were dispatched to the 2500 block of S 10th St., in reference to a violation of an order of protection.

Prior to officers’ arrival, Dispatch informed officers that the victim has a stalking no-contact order against Alena Nelson, aged 28. The order of protection was issued on August 25, 2022, and expires on August 22, 2024. The order was served to Alena on August 26, 2022. According to officers, Alena had violated the order of protection against her by driving past the residence numerous times.

On the victim’s security footage from her residence, Alena is observed driving a silver Dodge minivan. She circles the block a few times, then she drives the van into the victim’s driveway, striking her car that was sitting in the driveway. Alena backs out of the driveway and continues driving around the block. She returns to the residence and attempts to drive up into the driveway again. This time, the victim is standing outside of her residence with a baseball bat. As Alena drives near the victim, nearly striking her with the van, the victim swings the bat, striking the windows and breaking the glass of the minivan. After Alena gets out of the van and begins to grapple with the victim, officers report that there were “Many blows exchanged between them.”

Witnesses on the scene observed Alena circling the block numerous times, eventually entering the victim’s driveway and colliding with her car. After the victim came outside, Alena attempted to drive into the driveway for a second time. Witnesses on the scene observed the victim striking Alena’s van with the bat. After her vehicle was struck, Alena stepped out of the vehicle, and when she did, witnesses observed her throw a bottle with the top on fire into the yard as she got out of the van. Later, the bottle was identified as a homemade Molotov cocktail.

Officers report that when they arrived on the scene, they observed Alena and the victim grabbing handfuls of each other’s hair. “Both females were out in the street in front of the victim’s residence, Alena had the victim up against the van in the street,” the officers’ report read.

After the two were separated, Alena was arrested on-site for violating the stalking no-contact order and aggravated battery, etc. She was transported to Memorial Healthcare to have her hand and head x-rayed. Once cleared by hospital staff, she was transported to the Sangamon County Jail.

Officers recommended that she be charged with Aggravated Battery in a public place, a class 3 felony, Reckless Conduct using a vehicle, Aggravated Stalking – Bodily Harm, a Class 3 Felony, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Carry Tear Gas Bomb Etc, a class A misdemeanor. However, according to official records, she was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with violating a no-stalking/contact order, a class A misdemeanor, and reckless conduct, a class A misdemeanor.

Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Robin Schmidt denied her pre-trial release and ordered that she remain in custody until the conclusion of the case.

Click here to view our previous article on Alena – Accused of a Second Fire: Springfield Woman Charged with Arson, Victim Had an Active Order of Protection

Springfield, Illinois – On December 19, 2023, around 5:36 a.m., Springfield Police were called to the 2000 block of Black Ave., in Springfield, Illinois, for a report of a stabbing. The female victim informed dispatch that her husband had stabbed her.

When officers arrived, they located Demond C. Jones, aged 48, walking out the back door of the residence. He stated that she fell on the knife.

The woman was found downstairs in the basement room, lying on the bed, bleeding from her upper right thigh. Approximately 3 feet away, a brown kitchen steak knife was found, appearing to have a fluid or residue on it.

The woman was transported to the hospital, where she told officers that Demond had stabbed her with a knife while in the basement. She stated that her husband stabbed her once in the thigh, then stood over her in bed, saying, “I told you I would kill you.” The woman informed officers that she couldn’t move due to the pain after being stabbed.

Before Demond was advised of his Miranda Rights, he claimed his wife had jumped up from the bed onto her knees while they were talking downstairs. He said she then fell down, and that is when she fell on the knife, resulting in the stab wound to her upper right thigh.

Demond told officers that he and his wife live at the residence and have been together for about 20 years. He has not had a domestic battery charge with her before.

Demond has been charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Domestic Battery (making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any family or household member), a class 2 felony. A Sangamon County Judge denied pre-trial release and ordered Demond to remain in custody until the conclusion of this case.

According to records, Demond was previously charged with threatening a public official in April. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months probation.

Demond is expected to return to court on January 4, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

Springfield, Illinois – A local man has pleaded guilty after leaving the Family Guidance Center, a halfway house located at 120 N. 11th St. in Springfield, IL, and cutting off his ankle monitor at a Casey’s Gas Station.

On September 23, 2020, Brian S. Edwards, age 39, received a 46-month imprisonment sentence with 4 years of supervision for violating the terms of his Supervised Release. He initially faced charges on June 22, 2009, related to amphetamine, leading to a conviction and a 96-month imprisonment sentence with 4 years of supervised release.

On July 6, 2023, Edwards was transferred from the United States Penitentiary (USP) Pekin to the Family Guidance Center Residential Reentry Center at 120 N. 11th St., Springfield. The Family Guidance Center is a contracted Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility assisting individuals in adjusting to life outside of prison. Therefore, when Edwards entered the Family Guidance Center (FGC), this placement remained part of his BOP custodial sentence under BOP supervision.

On November 3, 2023, at approximately 6:00 p.m., staff at the Family Guidance Center observed Edwards, without authorization, running out of the building without shoes or socks, displaying erratic behavior after pacing around. The staff last saw Edwards getting into his Silver Ford Fusion and driving away.

On the same day, the Central District of Illinois U.S. Marshal Service Springfield Office received an escape notification from the Federal Bureau of Prisons for Brian S. Edwards.

Later on that day, state and local officers located Edwards’s vehicle in Greenview, IL, at the local Casey’s Gas Station around 7:58 p.m. Local officers interviewed clerks who stated that Edwards had entered the store and requested to use a pair of scissors. Once he had the scissors, Edwards bent over and cut off his GPS ankle monitor, leaving it in the store. State and local officers searched the area, arresting Edwards in Greenview, IL at around 10:27 p.m. Edwards was then transported to the Sangamon County Jail (BOP contract jail) due to violating the rules of the Family Guidance Center.

On December 11, 2023, Edwards pleaded guilty to a single federal charge of escape. Subsequently, he was released from Federal Bureau of Prisons custody and is currently awaiting sentencing

Spaulding, Illinois – William L. Cooper, aged 46, has been sentenced for shooting at police officers in Spaulding, Illinois. Cooper entered a guilty plea to a single and reduced charge of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 felony, after initially facing charges of two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer (also a Class X felony) and a count of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, following allegations that Cooper drove through a metal gate directly at several responding officers.

He was arrested on Friday, August 20, 2021, after Sangamon County Central Dispatch received a call on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at 9:47 p.m., reporting a distressed male at 43 Devine Dr., Spaulding, believed to be William L. Cooper. The caller, not present at the residence, suggested a possible overdose. Riverton PD and Spaulding PD were the first to arrive, reporting shots fired, with no injuries.

Cooper fled the scene in a vehicle, later found unoccupied at Mary Lane and Francis Dr., Spaulding. Deputies established a perimeter, and Illinois State Police closed Route 54.

Attempts to communicate with Cooper by phone were unsuccessful, leading to a Facebook post by Cooper at some point. He was apprehended at 12:57 a.m. in the 5400 Block of River View Rd, Spaulding, Illinois.

Law enforcement reported finding at least 10 shell casings at the scene.

Following Cooper’s arraignment, he posted bond amounting to $100,000 (10 percent of his $1 million bond) and, upon release, was directed to comply with the following terms:

• GPS electronic monitoring
• Home confinement
• Psychiatric evaluation and adherence to all recommended treatment
• Surrender of all firearms and FOID Concealed Carry License

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell clarified at the time that there was no indication that Cooper was under the influence of any substances.

On December 14, 2023, Cooper, represented by Criminal Defense Attorney Dan Fultz, was sentenced to 36 months of probation and fined a total of $10,724.00. If he had been convicted on his original charges, he could have faced a sentence of 10-45 years and would have been required to serve 85% of his sentence.

Springfield, Illinois – According to a source close to Springfield Leaks, the Illinois State Police is investigating a possible murder-suicide that occurred on December 17th and December 18th. The suspect in the homicide is Nicholas Giberson, a 46-year-old man who worked as a guard at Logan Correctional Center. According to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon, Giberson died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Riverton, Illinois. Our source also confirms that the victim in the homicide is Nicole Pedigo, a 33-year-old woman from Olney, Illinois.

A spokesperson for the Illinois State Police declined to confirm on the record whether both of these incidents are linked, but provided the following information:

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 is leading the open and ongoing investigation into a homicide occurring on December 17, 2023, in the 2400 block of E. Main Street in Olney. The victim is identified as 33-year-old Nicole Pedigo of Olney, IL. It is believed there are no safety concerns to the community regarding this incident. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further information is being released at this time.

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 4 is leading the open and ongoing death investigation in the 100 block of E. Menard Street in Riverton on December 18, 2023. The victim is identified as 46-year-old Nicholas Giberson of Riverton, IL. An autopsy was conducted on December 19, 2023, with results pending. It is believed there are no safety concerns to the community regarding this incident. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further information is being released at this time.”

Reportedly, Pedigo and Giberson were involved in a dating relationship. Richland County Sheriff Andy Hires stated that the situation effectively concluded with Giberson’s death. He mentioned, “There is still a significant amount of investigation to be carried out on the backend of the case.” Hires added that Ms. Pedigo’s demise is a grievous tragedy for the community, given that she leaves behind two young children.

Springfield Leaks will provide more details as soon as they become available.

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield woman is expected to receive a summons to appear in court on December 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. after being charged with arson, a class 2 felony, by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office.

According to reports we received, on October 11, 2023, Springfield Police and Fire were dispatched to the 2000 block of S. 10th St. for a garbage fire. Springfield Police spoke with the resident of the house, and she stated that she had video footage identifying the individual who started the fire.

The woman identified Alena D. Nelson, age 28, as the suspect because Nelson had previously set fire to a detached garage behind her house. The woman mentioned that, following the first fire, which occurred last year, she obtained an order of protection. Springfield officers verified the order of protection, and records indicate that Nelson was served. The order of protection is effective until August 2024.

The woman informed the police that Nelson won’t stop bothering her even after the Order of Protection was served. She mentioned that Nelson had been previously arrested for violating an order of protection. —–see if you can add this to the bottom. According to records, in June 2023, Nelson was charged with Criminal Damage to Property, a class 4 felony, and violating a stalking/no-contact order, a class A misdemeanor. The case is still ongoing.

Officers also spoke with the woman’s neighbor, who reported seeing a red Ford Utility truck going up and down the alley. The neighbor described a black female wearing a black sweatshirt with red lettering. According to him, she exited the vehicle and headed towards the back of the woman’s house. A minute later, he observed the female walking away with something white in her hand. Additionally, he noticed a fire and went to check, discovering a fire in the garbage on the South side of the house. While he was putting the fire out, the red truck returned, and the driver started yelling. He mentioned that he couldn’t make out what she was saying because he was focused on extinguishing the fire.

Officers noted that there was burned garbage and siding in the driveway. According to the resident, she estimated that the damage was approximately $1,500.

According to reports, this is the second time Nelson has been listed as a suspect in an arson investigation. Reports show that in November 2022, around 12:26 a.m., Springfield Police and Fire were called to the same address, involving the same woman, for a structure fire that was located behind the house at the garage.

Officers say when the woman arrived home from work, she was very upset, and said, “this lady is going to kill me.” The woman told police at that time that she has been going through ongoing issues with her ex-boyfriend’s other child’s mother and believed that she is the one that set her house on fire. According to records, Nelson has not been charged in this case.

Records show that, in addition to this arson case, she has other pending cases:

In November 2022, Nelson faced charges of 2 counts of violating a stalking no-contact order, but those charges were dropped.

In June 2023, Nelson was charged with Criminal Damage to Property, a class 4 felony, and violating a stalking/no-contact order, a class A misdemeanor. This case is still ongoing.

In August 2023, she was charged with criminal damage to property, and that case is still ongoing.

This month, Nelson was charged with Criminal Damage to Property for an incident that occurred on November 5, 2023. She was given a notice to appear on December 26, 2023, for that case.

Springfield, Illinois – The owner and CEO of Urgent Rent-A-Car, Jordan J. Monroe, 32, a well-known figure in Springfield, Illinois, due to his documented unethical and illegal business practices, was sentenced Friday, December 15, 2023 after being found guilty of Aggravated Battery, a class 3 felony, following a jury trial. The charges stemmed from an incident where a male victim, who was also a Rent-A-Car customer renting a vehicle from the business, reported being punched in the face by Monroe outside United Community Bank (UCB) located at 617 Bruns Ln. on August 11, 2021.

According to the victim, he had just parked at UCB Bank to pick up a friend from work when a black male in his 30s, accompanied by Monroe in a suit, removed him from the vehicle before he could put the car in park. The victim, who had rented the car from Urgent Rent-A-Car, reported Monroe taking the vehicle key and driving off.

The victim stated that he had rented the vehicle from Urgent Rent-A-Car, and the vehicle was not due back until after 5:00 p.m. that day. The officer noted that the time the victim called the police to report the battery was 4:49 p.m., and the incident occurred before that.

The victim informed the police that, while attempting to retrieve his belongings from the vehicle (which included $300, a Turbo Phone Charger, Cash App Debit Card, Uber Debit Card, Lyft Debit Card, Grub Hub Debit Card, House Keys, and a Red Grub Hub Bag with paperwork), Monroe punched him in the face. The officer noted in his report that the victim had a visible laceration to his nose and was bleeding. “There was blood on the ground where the incident occurred and on the front of the victim’s shirt.”

The victim continued his statement by saying that when he was pulled out of the vehicle, it rolled back into Jordan’s vehicle, a blue and white BMW sports car. The officer noted, “The victim stated that the doors flipped up to open, and there was damage to the front bumper from the vehicle rolling back into it.”

The victim said after he was punched in the face by Monroe, Monroe got back in his BMW and left the scene.

The officer spoke with an employee at UCB bank who confirmed that they would have video of the incident. UCB Bank emailed over security footage, and the officer noted in his report what he observed in the video.

“The video showed the suspect vehicle pull directly behind the victim’s vehicle after it parked in the parking space near UCB Bank. The suspect vehicle was positioned in a manner that prevented the victim’s vehicle from backing out of the parking space. The driver exited the suspect vehicle and walked to the driver’s door of the victim’s vehicle and opened it. The suspect vehicle driver then appeared to reach into the victim’s vehicle. It appeared both drivers were exchanging words as a passenger (tall, heavy-set black male wearing all black) from the suspect vehicle exited and walked to the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle. The black male stood at the victim’s vehicle. He appeared to still be exchanging words with the driver of the victim’s vehicle when the driver quickly exited, and the victim’s vehicle rolled into the suspect’s vehicle.”

“After the unoccupied vehicle collided, the suspect vehicle driver rushed over to the victim’s vehicle driver, punched him in the face, and then got into the suspect vehicle and fled the scene. As this was taking place, the black male got in the driver’s seat of the victim’s vehicle. As the victim chased after the suspect vehicle, the black male drove off in the victim’s vehicle.”

Springfield Police Officers attempted to locate Monroe, including having a Chatham Police Department officer go by his registered address in Chatham, but Monroe was not found.

However, 10 days later, on August 20, 2021, Monroe was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with 2 counts of Aggravated Battery and 2 counts of Battery. Monroe was released after paying 10 percent ($5,000) of his $50,000 bond. Before trial, the State’s Attorney’s office dismissed both counts of Battery and instead tried him on the two counts of Aggravated Battery, both class 3 felonies.

On July 10, 2023, a Sangamon County Jury deliberated for an hour and returned a guilty verdict for Aggravated Battery (bodily harm) and found him not guilty for Aggravated Battery (insulting or provoking contact).

In court on Friday, Monroe’s attorney, John Sharp, informed Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow that, due to subsequent information, they had reached the stage of a negotiated disposition. This negotiated disposition concluded all of Monroe’s pending cases, and he was sentenced to 24 months of probation for Aggravated Battery, a class 3 felony. Other charges in separate cases, such as reckless driving, reckless conduct, and disorderly conduct — all misdemeanors — were dropped. Additionally, a case for Aggravated fleeing and eluding from Chatham police in October 2021, a class 4 felony, was dismissed. A separate speeding ticket (35+ mph over the limit) was dismissed, but Monroe had to pay a $402 fine for that case. His Insurance Fraud case, a class 3 felony, was dismissed, but he was ordered to repay the National Interstate Insurance Company $2,124.34. His 2016 BMW i8 is also set to be released and returned to him.

A reporter for Springfield Leaks did reach out to John Milhiser, the re-appointed State’s Attorney for Sangamon County, to inquire about what our sources are describing as a sweetheart plea deal considering his criminal history. However, we have not received a response from Milhiser as of now.

Sources close to Springfield Leaks also confirmed that Monroe has a history of providing GPS data from his rental vehicles to the police. One source, who requested anonymity, verified that a particular Springfield Police Detective would contact Monroe via call or text when investigating a shooting. The detective would also check if Monroe had a vehicle matching the description of one involved in a shooting and seek information. The source also confirmed that information was shared with the police, contributing to various drug busts.

Monroe has an extensive criminal history and a record of unethical and illegal business practices that led to the involvement of Springfield, Chatham, and Secretary of State Police:

February 4, 2021:

• An Urgent Rent-A-Car Saturn Cue 4-door car, towed due to the driver having a revoked license, had a different license plate on the vehicle that didn’t belong to it. In the report, the officer wrote, “At this time, Urgent is suspected of knowingly displaying the wrong registration plates on the Saturn and renting it out regardless. The company is owned by Jordan J. Monroe.”

May 23, 2021:

• A woman reported to the police that her rental car from Urgent Rent A Car was repossessed before the late fee was due. Urgent Rent A Car claimed the vehicle was taken out of state, violating their contract. Springfield Police intervened to retrieve the renter’s items left in the vehicle. The officer noted that when asked about an inventory of the property, Jordan Monroe did not provide one and only showed a black trash bag, stating all items were in the bag. After a Sergeant responded, the renter got her property back, but $700 was reported missing from her wallet.

July 06, 2021:

• Jordan Monroe went to the Starbucks Coffee Shop located at 3412 Freedom Drive. He came through the drive-thru and asked about the employee’s co-worker, inquiring if the co-worker’s girlfriend was working. The co-worker asked Monroe “how do you know him,” and Monroe replied that he and his female passengers were fans of the co-worker. The employee then asked Monroe to please stop asking personal questions about him. According to the employee, Monroe got upset and attempted to drive away, but the employee still had his card. After the employee tried to give it back to him, she dropped it inside his car through the window. She then told the police that when she turned around, she was struck in the lower leg by a full cold drink. The employee said she wasn’t injured but was extremely alarmed and disturbed by Monroe’s actions.

July 17, 2021:

• Deontrey L. Holder was arrested at Urgent Rent A Car. Police were called to the business for a disturbance. According to the report, Holder stated that his cousin rented a car from Urgent Rent a Car, and he was driving it. However, Urgent Rent a Car repossessed the vehicle for lack of proof of insurance. Holder told the police that he had several car seats inside the vehicle, and per Urgent Rent a Car’s contract, to retrieve the car seats, Holder had to pay a $100 repossession fee. According to police, Holder did not want to pay the fee.

Police read the contract, and according to the contract, Urgent Rent a Car has the right to repossess any vehicle they rent for any reason; the property inside the vehicle becomes the property of Urgent Rent a Car, and in order to retrieve the property, Urgent Rent a Car must be paid a $100 repossession fee. After police informed Holder of the contract, they told him that he would have to settle the matter in civil court and that he needed to leave the property.

Police reported that Holder stated he did not care if he went to jail for giving somebody a bloody nose. According to police, Monroe stated he is a six (6) time felon and was attempting to antagonize Holder into a physical fight. Monroe also made a shrewd business decision by removing a large amount of cash from the safe and placing it directly on the counter in front of Holder to try and prove Monroe did not care about cash, and that his stance was based purely on his noble principles. Police say Holder requested a supervisor within the Springfield Police Department but was told that they were busy dealing with an unrelated robbery and shooting. Police say Holder then stated someone else was probably going to get shot. Based on his tone and body language, police believed Holder to be making a threat. At approximately 7:18 p.m., police placed Holder under arrest.

Holder was arrested on preliminary charges of Aggravated Assault, a class A misdemeanor, and Criminal Trespass to Property, a class B misdemeanor. However, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to file charges.

September 19, 2021:

• Three vehicles at Urgent Rent-A-Car were damaged. Tires were slashed.

September 21, 2021:

• A man went to 1817 E. Keys Ave in Springfield, Illinois after his $400 Lenovo Laptop was pinging to that address. According to the man, his nephew had rented a vehicle from Urgent Rent-A-Car, and his rental was expired. The vehicle was towed from Crown Plaza in Lombard, IL on September 20, 2021. The man said that he spoke to the CEO of the company (Jordan Monroe), who said he did not have the laptop and suggested that the tow company possibly stole it.

The man told the police his suitcase was in the Urgent Rent-A-Car at the time of the tow, and when he went to Urgent Rent A Car to retrieve his property, he noticed his laptop was missing from his luggage. The man described his laptop as silver, black, gray, with music notes on it. The serial number for the Lenovo 81 MU Laptop is PF1C69BL.

September 25, 2021:

• A family had their Urgent Rent A Car vehicle repossessed by a tow truck while picking up food, after making arrangements to make a payment on their rental. A woman complained to the police and said Monroe “shoulder checked” her (using his shoulder to push her backward). The woman reported that when she called Urgent Rent-A-Car and spoke to someone she believed to be Monroe based on his voice, she asked for the names of the three men who were in the tow truck. The man responded and said, “The only thing you need to worry about is me kidnapping your daughter, raping her, and barbecuing the nigger bitch.” That same day, the officer reported that the silver Chrysler Sebring that the family was driving was registered in the State of Arizona and Illinois.

October 8, 2021:

• Police responded to Urgent Rent A Car after a man called the police to report that his rented car broke down less than a block away from the business. When the man went back to the business to attempt to get his money back or get a different car, the business refused to issue a refund and told him he had to leave. The man told them he was going to wait for the police when a male employee grabbed him in a headlock and dragged him outside the building. According to a separate witness, she reported that she saw Monroe kicking the man and that the man was trying to cover up and not fight back.

October 11, 2021:

• Monroe was clocked speeding over 80 miles-per-hour in a 40 mile-per-hour speed zone in Chatham, Illinois by Chatham Police. Chatham police obtained a seizure warrant for the vehicle he was driving that night, a BMW i8 Coupe. Monroe attempted to prevent police from seizing the vehicle, which required Chatham Police to seek a warrant for the vehicle and the driver, Monroe. Monroe was charged with Aggravated fleeing and eluding police, a class 4 felony. This case was dismissed with a $402 fine and his BMW i8 was ordered to be returned to him.

October 21, 2021:

• Monroe contacted Chatham Police Department to report that he was a victim of “Cyberstalking” by an ex-employee who had been stealing from the company and fired. According to Monroe, the fired employee wrote on two Facebook groups and announced that “Urgent Rent a Car says they will refund your money if you got repoed.” The ex-employee then included in the post Monroe’s residential address located at 1831 Spartan Dr., in Chatham, Illinois.

According to Monroe’s complaint to the Chatham Police Department, he was extremely worried that his home address is now on Facebook for people to see. “Jordan stated he had issues with customers in the past and is worried that they could come to his home.” After an Investigator with the Chatham Police Department contacted Assistant State’s Attorney, Haley Botts, to ask what else they needed for this case, Botts told the Investigator, “the case would not be charged, and there was nothing else he could do for them.”

March 19, 2023:

• Springfield Police were called to Urgent Rent A Car to meet with customers at the business for a disturbance. According to police, the caller said that the owner of the business, Jordan Monroe, was threatening to “mace” people.

Police spoke with Monroe, who said that a rental car was brought back by a different person who didn’t rent the vehicle, and they were attempting to get a deposit returned although they weren’t the person who rented the vehicle. Monroe said he told them to leave his property, but they stayed on the sidewalk and at one point had bricks in their hands. Monroe said he feared that they might begin to damage his property, and that’s when he went outside to confront them. Monroe said the man punched him on the left shoulder.

According to the man who returned the vehicle, Monroe had maced a person who showed up to help him. According to the woman, she said that Monroe had pushed her because she started recording the incident. She stated that the man did not strike Monroe.

Police reviewed the surveillance cameras on Monroe’s building. “It appeared as if Monroe and an unknown individual followed the group down the sidewalk instead of staying inside and calling the police. That video shows the unknown subject approach Monroe and either throw something at him or drop something. Monroe then sprays him, and he eventually leaves.” No arrests were made that day due to a lack of independent witnesses, evidence, and the fact that Monroe and an unknown individual followed the party down the sidewalk.

The instances mentioned above, where Springfield Police had to be called to Urgent Rent-A-Car, represent only a few detailed events. According to records from Sangamon County, there are numerous additional instances where Springfield Police were called due to customer disputes.

Monroe’s Criminal History:

• Retail Theft (Class 3): McLean County Case Number 2018-CF-288 (sentenced to 30 days in county jail and 30 months of felony probation)

• Aggravated Battery (Class 3) and Criminal Damage to Property (Class 4): Sangamon County Case Number 2015-CF-170 (sentenced to 1 year in the Department of Corrections)

• Criminal Damage to Property (Class 4): Sangamon County Case Number 2013-CF-889 (sentenced to 1 year in the Department of Corrections)

• Aggravated Robbery (Class 2): Sangamon County Case Number 2010-CF-817 (sentenced to 5 years in the Department of Corrections)