Cops seek evidence in evidence room break-in
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Illinois State Police are investigating an apparent break-in of the evidence room at the Hardin County Sheriff's Department by inmates in the county jail that took place sometime last week or the weekend.
The incident comes just days following an apparent escape involving an inmate last Wednesday who was caught and transferred to the Saline County Detention Center in Harrisburg.
That inmate, Brian P. Vaughn, 27, of Elizabethtown had been arrested on a charge of domestic battery. When brought to Harrisburg authorities added an escape charge as well.
After the latest incident Hardin County transferred three more prisoners to Saline County according to booking records in the sheriff's department.
The Hardin County Sheriff's Department brought Jerry L. Hicks, 45, Rosiclare; David Skyler Ramsey, 22, Rosiclare; and Raymond M. Dutton, 35, Cave-in-Rock to Harrisburg and booked them into the Saline County Detention Center at 12:15 p.m. Sunday.
Ramsey was in jail on charges of disorderly conduct, aggravated battery, resisting arrest, retail theft over $300 and burglary while Dutton faced charges of violating an order of protection, aggravated battery, possession of a weapon by a felon, domestic battery, unlawful use of a weapon, obstructing justice, resisting arrest and aggravated unlawful restraint.
Hicks was originally booked on charges of burglary and theft, but records show authorities added a new charge of burglary and theft on Monday.
Newly-appointed Hardin County Sheriff Joyce Cullison directed questions to the county's newly-appointed State's Attorney Melissa Presser who offered, "no comment."
Illinois State Police are also not commenting on the investigation. Witnesses in Elizabethtown though confirmed the presence of crime scene tape around the exterior of the jail on Monday.
Vaughn had been held in the Saline County Detention Center pending an initial court appearance and no longer is being held as of Tuesday. Hicks, Ramsey and Dutton remained in the detention center.