Chatham, Illinois – A Chatham man was arrested and charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office after he was arrested by Chatham Police for Aggravated Domestic Battery. The man’s wife told police her husband “had been beating the shit out of her.”

On November 3, 2023, Officer Brachear, during field training with Officer Munch, responded to a dispatch regarding a fight at 1 Southgate. Upon arrival, they found the victim sitting on the steps outside a trailer with visible injuries, including bruising, swelling, and open lacerations on her face, as well as bruising on her neck.

When questioned, the victim told police that her husband, Benjamin F. Felber, aged 42, “had been beating the shit out of her.” Officer Brachear entered the residence to locate Benjamin, who came from the hallway holding a THC vape pen. Benjamin was handcuffed, and Officer Brachear reported noticing red marks on Benjamin’s knuckles. When questioned about the marks, Benjamin claimed they occurred from his work as a lawn maintenance employee. Officer Brachear then read Benjamin his Miranda rights and asked him about the incident. Benjamin told Officer Brachear that there was some verbal arguments that stemmed from his wife’s use of aerosol cans for “whip-its.”

Officer Harris spoke with the victim and took her statement. The victim stated that her husband, Benjamin, had beaten her over a duster can and that he had been beating her almost every day for the past month. Just before she called 911, Benjamin repeatedly hit her in the face. She stated that Benjamin had placed his hands around her neck and choked her until she passed out two days prior. Officer Harris noted that the victim had noticeable bruises and marks all around her face, neck, and a fresh bruise just under her left eye.

Benjamin was taken to the Sangamon County Jail and charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Aggravated Domestic Battery, a class 2 felony, and Domestic Battery, a class 4 felony. He was granted pre-trial release and is expected to return to court on November 30, 2023.

Back in August, records show that Benjamin was arrested by Chatham Police for Domestic Battery. He pleaded guilty and received a one-year probation sentence.

Multiple law enforcement agencies in Springfield, Illinois, conducted raids last week on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, supported by additional law enforcement agencies. As of now, there is no official statement from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office regarding the arrests. However, the list of individuals who were arrested, along with their release or detention status until trial, is provided below:

Randy L. Rexroad – (Pre-Trial Release) Meth Delivery 15 but less than 100 Grams (Class X Felony)

Jarvin T. White – (Pre-Trial Hold) Meth Delivery 15 but less than 100 Grams (Class X Felony)

Brent A. McClanahan – (Pre-Trial Hold) 2 counts of Meth Delivery 15 but less than 100 Grams (Class X Felony) & Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class 2 Felony)

Phillip D. Pogue – (Pre-Trial Release) Manufacturing/Delivery of 15 but less than 100 Grams of Cocaine (Class X Felony) & Manufacturing/Delivery of Meth (Class 2 Felony)

Chadrick J. Jackson – (Pre-Trial Release) Manufacturing/Delivery 15 but less than 100 Grams (Class X Felony)

Zachary M. Brown – (Pre-Trial Release) Meth Delivery 5 but less than 15 Grams (Class 1 Felony)

Robert J. Buckley – (Pre-Trial Release) Meth Delivery 5 but less than 15 Grams (Class 1 Felony) & Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class 2 Felony)

Warren G. Payne Jr – (Pre-Trial Hold) Meth Delivery 15 but less than 100 Grams (Class X Felony) & Manufacturing Delivery of Meth (Class 2 Felony) & Unlawful Sale / Delivery of Firearm (Class 4 Felony)

Jeremy D. Banks – (Pre-Trial Hold) 2 counts of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony) & 2 counts of Unlawful Sale / Delivery of a Firearm (Class 4 Felony)

Thomas D. Davis – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery 1 but less than 15 Grams of Cocaine (Class 1 Felony) & 3 counts of Manufacturing / Delivery of a Controlled Substance

Bret M. Capella – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class X Felony)

Christopher A. Gentry – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class X Felony)

Rhonda J. Shanks – (No Custody Information Available at the moment) Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class X Felony)

Brandi R. Shabazz – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class X Felony) & Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class 2 Felony)

Angela L. Gonzalez – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class X Felony)

Darius K. Billops – (Pre-Trial Release) Meth Delivery 5 but less than 15 Grams (Class 1 Felony)

Terrance L. Davis – (Pre-Trial Release) Unlawful Sale / Delivery of a Firearm (Class 4 Felony)

Lynnikia V. Rice – (Pre-Trial Release) Unlawful Sale / Delivery of a Firearm (Class 4 Felony)

Thomas D. Davis – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery Less than 15 grams of Cocaine (Class 1 Felony) & Manufacturing / Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 1 Felony) & Manufacturing / Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class X Felony) & Manufacturing / Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 1 Felony)

Brandon Mason – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class X Felony)

Jamaal R. White – (Pre-Trial Release) Manufacturing / Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 1 Felony)

Latayveon L. Wells – (Pre-Trial Hold) Manufacturing / Delivery of Meth (Class X Felony) & Meth Delivery – Less than 5 Grams (Class X Felony)

Springfield, Illinois (Village of Southern View) – The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, has identified the two individuals found deceased in the 3300 block of South 3rd Street on November 11, 2023.

Craig Burch, 37, of Southern View and Michael Gaither, 57, of Southern View were pronounced deceased at their residence at 8:00 p.m. Autopsies were conducted on both individuals today and preliminary findings show Michael Gaither died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and Craig Burch died from a single gun shot wound.

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell told us that around 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 11, 2023, the Southern View Police Department conducted a welfare check at a home in the 3000 block of South 3rd Street. Upon gaining entry, that’s when they discovered both Burch and Gaither deceased inside the residence. Sheriff Campbell added that the two individuals were occupants of the home.

Based on preliminary evidence and statements to detectives, the situation is believed to be a case of murder-suicide.

At this time the death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. 

Springfield, Illinois (Village of Southern View) – At approximately 7:00PM last night, the Southern View Police Department performed a welfare check at a home in the 3000 block of South 3rd Street. Upon gaining entry, two deceased subjects were located inside, both having suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Both subjects, a 37 year old male and a 57 year old male, were occupants of the home.

Southern View requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division. Detectives responded to the scene to process the residence for evidence and conduct preliminary interviews.

This investigation is ongoing, with the assistance of the Southern View Police Department and the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office.

Based on the preliminary evidence, and statements to detectives, the situation is believed to be a case of murder-suicide. At this time the Sheriffs Office does not believe there is any threat to the community.

The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, confirmed the death of two individuals found inside of a residence in the 3000 block of South 3^rdStreet in Southern View last night.

At the request of the Southern View Police Department, Coroner Jim Allmon responded to the residence. Both of the deceased individuals found inside the residence resided there and were pronounced deceased at 8pm. The deaths do not appear to be from natural causes and are considered suspicious in nature.

Autopsies have been scheduled for Monday morning.

The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending next of kin notification. The deaths remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Sangamon County Coroner.

Springfield, Illinois – In an update to this story – Today, a Sangamon County Judge has agreed to pre-trial release for Lynsey Hagen during a preliminary hearing this morning. According to the terms of the pre-trial release, Hagen has to complete a mental health evaluation and abide by the terms of her treatment.

According to the Sangamon County Jail, Hagen was released from custody around noon today.

The original story is below:

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield woman has been arrested and charged with arson for setting fire to her parent’s house while they and her daughter were asleep inside. This incident occurred just 9 days after she was served an order of protection to stay away from her parent’s residence. Arson investigators have determined that the house is a complete loss, with the estimated total value of damage at approximately $90,000.

On October 21, 2023 around 3:23 a.m., the Springfield Fire Department and Springfield Police Department responded to a structure fire at 817 N. Indiana. Police report that the house was fully engulfed with flames and that flames were coming out of the roof.

Springfield Police say that when they arrived on the scene, a neighbor was trying to spray water on the house. According to the neighbor, when they walked outside and saw the house on fire, they said Lyndsey N. Hagen, age 34, was running down the sidewalk barefoot and was asking people for shoes. According to the neighbor, Lyndsey told them, “I lit the sanitizer.” 

According to police, when the house caught fire, Lyndsey’s parents and her 15 year old daughter were inside the residence.

Several days after the fire, on October 25, 2023, police located Lyndsey near the intersection of 17th and Matheny. She was transported to the Springfield Police Department and interviewed about the incident. Police say that when she was walking inside the Police Department, she made a spontaneous utterance and said, “that’s why I was there when it caught fire. I was looking for my wallet.”

Arson investigators read Lyndsey her Miranda rights and asked if she understood them and wished to speak. Lyndsey agreed. Investigators reported that during the interview, she admitted to being present at 817 Indiana on the morning of the fire. She admitted that she was looking for her purse and wallet. She also admitted that she knew the house was occupied by her father, mother, and daughter.

When questioned about the incident, Lyndsey explained that she was in a bedroom using a candle for light, but the candle had burned out. She further stated that while sitting on her bed, she lit a container of hand sanitizer on fire, and that the hand sanitizer fell over, causing the bed to catch on fire. She told investigators that she went outside to get a hose and sprayed it through a window.

Investigators asked her if she tried to wake her daughter after passing her window several times, but she told investigators no. She also admitted that she didn’t make any attempts to call 911 nor try to wake up her parents, nor try to go to a neighbor’s house to have them call for help.

According to records, 9 days before this fire, Lyndsey was served an order of protection which was filed by her father. Her father told a Sangamon County Judge about her direct threats, including statements about harming them while they slept. He also mentioned several troubling incidents, like breaking two windows, destroying flower pots, and stealing items like old jewelry (for its gold value), collector coins, cash, and even laundry detergent. She had trouble sleeping, possibly due to drugs, and ongoing mental health issues that had led to her being held for evaluation in the past. She had never held a job. “We would like for her to get help, but we cant keep living like this. Right now she is out in the back yard lighting firecrackers and bottle rockets,” the dad said. The order of protection was granted and Lyndsey was served the same day.

Investigators say due to the order of protection, which doesn’t expire until 10/09/2025, Lyndsey did not have the authority to enter her parent’s residence, nor did she have the consent of the owner to light any property on fire.

Lyndsey was arrested and booked into the Sangamon County Jail. She was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Aggravated Arson, a class X felony, Residential Arson, a class 1 felony, and a Violation of an order of protection, a class A misdemeanor. A pretrial bond hearing was held, and a Sangamon County Judge ruled that she must remain in the Sangamon County Jail until the conclusion of this case.

Over the weekend, a man was arrested for breaking into the Illinois State Capitol Building. According to the police, he broke a window to gain entry.

On Sunday, November 5, 2023, around 9:30 p.m., a man named James J. Kirst entered a construction area on the northeast side of the Illinois State Capitol Building. He climbed a scaffold to reach the roof area, broke several windows, and went inside.

The police responded to the incident, and Kirst exited the building through an emergency exit. He was then apprehended in the parking lot.

Kirst was taken to St. John’s Hospital by the Springfield Police Department for a mental evaluation. The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Kirst with Criminal Damage to Government Property under $500, which is a class 4 felony. He was released on pre-trial conditions and is expected to appear in court on November 30, 2023.

Springfield, Illinois – On Sunday, November 5, 2023, at around 12:26 a.m., Springfield Police Officer Jared Spaid responded to 224 1/2 N. Douglas for a report of a domestic battery. While attempting to speak with the suspect, Officer Spaid reported that the suspect pointed what appeared to be a real Glock handgun from inside the residence at him and at the father of his girlfriend. The suspect was arrested after a short stand-off, booked into the Sangamon County Jail, and later released on the same day.

Springfield Officer Spaid reported that when he arrived on scene he met with the caller’s father. They walked up to the residence and met with the victim at the front door of the residence. The victim told Officer Spaid that she was at the residence attempting to get her glasses out of the residence and that she was leaving due to getting into a physical altercation with her boyfriend, who was identified as Deangelo V. Allgood, age 24.

The woman said that during the altercation Allgood had kicked her in the butt while arguing.

Officer Spaid reported that while at the front door, trying to make contact with Allgood, the woman’s father was yelling at Allgood, expressing his anger that Allgood had battered his daughter. Officer Spaid reported that he could hear a voice from inside the residence saying something along the lines of, “I’m going to rain hellfire if I come out there.”

Officer Spaid then witnessed Allgood open the blind on the west side of the house, just south of the front door. When Allgood opened the blind, he tapped a black pistol against the glass of the window. Allgood pointed the pistol directly at Officer Spaid while peering out of the window with his face against the glass. Officer Spaid stated that he believed it was a real Glock handgun that Allgood was aiming at them.

Officer Spaid wrote in his report that he and the woman’s father “were immediately in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery from the handgun pointed at them.”

Springfield Police Officers were able to reach Allgood by phone and ordered him to come out of the residence after a large presence of police officers surrounded the house and repeatedly ordered him to exit the residence unarmed. Allgood told officers on the phone that he pointed a gun out the window but didn’t know police were outside. Allgood told officers it was a BB gun.

Springfield Police Officers obtained a search warrant for the house and found “a realistic looking Glock brand BB Gun” inside the house on the floor of the living room. Officer Spaid reported that the BB gun looked like the gun that was pointed towards him and the woman’s father.

Allgood was taken to the Sangamon County Jail, where Springfield Police officers recommended that he be charged with Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer, a Class 4 felony, and Aggravated Assault by Using a Deadly Weapon/Air Rifle, a Class A misdemeanor. According to jail officials, Allgood was released from custody later on the same day. As of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 6, 2023, Allgood had not been criminally charged.

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield woman has been arrested and charged with arson for setting fire to her parent’s house while they and her daughter were asleep inside. This incident occurred just 9 days after she was served an order of protection to stay away from her parent’s residence. Arson investigators have determined that the house is a complete loss, with the estimated total value of damage at approximately $90,000.

On October 21, 2023 around 3:23 a.m., the Springfield Fire Department and Springfield Police Department responded to a structure fire at 817 N. Indiana. Police report that the house was fully engulfed with flames and that flames were coming out of the roof.

Springfield Police say that when they arrived on the scene, a neighbor was trying to spray water on the house. According to the neighbor, when they walked outside and saw the house on fire, they said Lyndsey N. Hagen, age 34, was running down the sidewalk barefoot and was asking people for shoes. According to the neighbor, Lyndsey told them, “I lit the sanitizer.”

According to police, when the house caught fire, Lyndsey’s parents and her 15 year old daughter were inside the residence.

Several days after the fire, on October 25, 2023, police located Lyndsey near the intersection of 17th and Matheny. She was transported to the Springfield Police Department and interviewed about the incident. Police say that when she was walking inside the Police Department, she made a spontaneous utterance and said, “that’s why I was there when it caught fire. I was looking for my wallet.”

Arson investigators read Lyndsey her Miranda rights and asked if she understood them and wished to speak. Lyndsey agreed. Investigators reported that during the interview, she admitted to being present at 817 Indiana on the morning of the fire. She admitted that she was looking for her purse and wallet. She also admitted that she knew the house was occupied by her father, mother, and daughter.

When questioned about the incident, Lyndsey explained that she was in a bedroom using a candle for light, but the candle had burned out. She further stated that while sitting on her bed, she lit a container of hand sanitizer on fire, and that the hand sanitizer fell over, causing the bed to catch on fire. She told investigators that she went outside to get a hose and sprayed it through a window.

Investigators asked her if she tried to wake her daughter after passing her window several times, but she told investigators no. She also admitted that she didn’t make any attempts to call 911 nor try to wake up her parents, nor try to go to a neighbor’s house to have them call for help.

According to records, 9 days before this fire, Lyndsey was served an order of protection which was filed by her father. Her father told a Sangamon County Judge about her direct threats, including statements about harming them while they slept. He also mentioned several troubling incidents, like breaking two windows, destroying flower pots, and stealing items like old jewelry (for its gold value), collector coins, cash, and even laundry detergent. She had trouble sleeping, possibly due to drugs, and ongoing mental health issues that had led to her being held for evaluation in the past. She had never held a job. “We would like for her to get help, but we cant keep living like this. Right now she is out in the back yard lighting firecrackers and bottle rockets,” the dad said. The order of protection was granted and Lyndsey was served the same day.

Investigators say due to the order of protection, which doesn’t expire until 10/09/2025, Lyndsey did not have the authority to enter her parent’s residence, nor did she have the consent of the owner to light any property on fire.

Lyndsey was arrested and booked into the Sangamon County Jail. She was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Aggravated Arson, a class X felony, Residential Arson, a class 1 felony, and a Violation of an order of protection, a class A misdemeanor. A pretrial bond hearing was held, and a Sangamon County Judge ruled that she must remain in the Sangamon County Jail until the conclusion of this case.

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield man was arrested and charged with aggravated battery to a child and domestic battery after he was seen on video hitting, grabbing, and cursing at his 2-year-old daughter. He has since been released pending trial.

On October 22, 2023, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Springfield Police reported that Michael P. Flynn, age 28, was captured on video inside his two-year-old daughter’s room, where he began to physically abuse her. In the video, he can be seen grabbing her and uttering the words “go back to bed you stupid fucking kid.” Michael head-butted the child twice on her head while telling her to “lay down now.” Police noted that the child was crying hysterically throughout the entire incident. Subsequently, Michael was observed grabbing the child by her hair and throwing her back onto her bed. Using his right hand, he repeatedly applied intense pressure to the child’s chest, causing her body to bounce off the bed and shift. He then exited the camera’s view as the child lay in bed. Upon his return, he knelt down, placing his hand over the child’s mouth while stating, “shut the fuck up, every fucking day.” Michael then grabs a pillow and began to hit the child with it 3-4 times.

The child had bruising and red marks starting at her jawline on the left side of her face going up to her ear. She also had a bruise on her right shoulder.

Michael was detained in handcuffs and read his Miranda rights, in which he said he understood and wanted to speak with officers. He stated he came home from a long day of work and went to bed. He woke up around 3 am to his child crying. He stated he walked in and placed her back in bed. When asked how he placed her in the bed, he stated he did not want to answer any more questions.

Michael was then placed under arrest and taken to the Sangamon County Jail. According to records, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Michael with two counts of Aggravated Battery to a Child, a Class 3 felony, and three counts of Domestic Battery, a Class A misdemeanor. While the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office requested that Michael remain in custody until trial, a Sangamon County Judge released him. The judge ordered him to complete a substance abuse evaluation within 30 days, a mental health evaluation, and prohibited him from possessing any weapons.

*Update to original article – An emergency order of protection was filed against Michael, by the mother of the child.

On October 17, 2023, around 9:03 a.m., Officer Binkley encountered a woman who was visibly upset and covered in blood on the left side of her head, which had soaked into her hair. Officer Binkley reported that the woman had a significant laceration above her left ear on her scalp.

The woman informed Officer Brinkley that she had been at 1210 E. Washington St. with a man named Leonardo A. White, age 39, who sold drugs. She told Officer Brinkley that she uses drugs and explained that for the past several days, Leonardo had prevented her from getting any sleep. She described that whenever she tried to sleep, Leonardo would smack her in the mouth.

The woman said at 5:00 a.m., a verbal dispute escalated into a physical confrontation when Leonardo suspected her of hiding his heroin. The woman informed Officer Binkley that Leonardo forcefully removed her shirt and pants and conducted a “cavity search” for the heroin. She described how Leonardo held her down, got on top of her, and strangled her around the neck, impeding her breathing and alternately covering her nose and mouth. He then cut the left side of her head with a box cutter and threatened her life by holding the blade against her neck. At some point, after Leonardo fell asleep due to being heavily intoxicated, the woman managed to leave the property.

According to officers, the woman was in and out of consciousness, had a large amount of blood on her head, and bruising on her neck.

After taking the report, Officer Binkley and officers with the Springfield Police Department Street Crimes Unit went to 1210 E. Washington, Apartment #209, in an effort to find Leonardo. When Officer Binkley knocked on the door, Leonardo jumped out of the second-story window, landing on an air conditioner before making contact with Officers Manzanares and Steffen, who ordered him to the ground. Leonardo, who had ducked down behind a fence, was taken into custody.

A search after the arrest revealed a plastic bag containing a white, rock-like substance that later tested positive for cocaine. It weighed around 8.93 grams, with its packaging. Additionally, a social security card for the woman was found in Leonardo’s pocket. Nearby the spot where Leonardo had hidden behind the fence, another plastic bag was discovered, containing what appeared to be heroin. It weighed about 25 grams, with its packaging. On top of the bag of suspected heroin, the woman’s identification card and a LINK card were found. Officers noted that it appeared Leonardo had attempted to conceal these items with rocks. Without being asked, Leonardo said the identification and LINK cards were his, but not the bag of suspected heroin. While Officer Steffen was speaking with another officer about the apartment, Leonardo stated that he didn’t live there and didn’t have any property in the apartment, noting that he was the resident’s caregiver. The resident confirmed that ‘Leo’ resided in the bedroom but clarified that the holster did not belong to Leo. He stated that it was his, and there were no firearms in the apartment.

Officer Steffen then obtained a search warrant for the apartment. After the warrant was signed, Officer Steffen returned to the apartment, where additional officers, including Sgt. Spaid, Officer Wise, Officer Craven, Officer Manzanares, and Detective Bivens, were present. Detective Bivens documented the apartment through photographs, while Officer Manzanares maintained an evidence log. A blood-stained shirt, a blood-stained pillowcase, and another blood-stained shirt were located in the apartment. In a table drawer within the common area, a bag containing a substance resembling methamphetamine and three digital scales were also found.

According to records, Leonardo has an extensive criminal history, with prior charges and convictions of homicide, assault, dangerous drugs, flight/escape, and weapons offenses. A warrant search also revealed two active Sangamon County warrants for Leonardo, both associated with failure to appear in court, with a bond amount of $7,500, subject to a 10% fee.

Leonardo was taken to the Sangamon County Jail and released on October 19, 2023 at 2:03 p.m., without charges.