State Briefs 3/19/08
Trio accused of supplying cocaine to Western suburbs
BELVIDERE - Police arrested three people who they think are "upper level" suppliers of cocaine to Chicago's western suburbs.
"The major suppliers will often not deal where they live," Deputy Chief Dave Ernest said. "They want to be just normal residents and blend in."
Jesus Muniz, 27, Elizabeth Bustos, 35, and Roman Bustos, 18, all of Belvidere, are in the Boone County Jail on charges of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
The three were arrested Tuesday after a three-month investigation by the Belvidere Police Narcotic Unit. Police believe the suspects had as much as 7 kilos of cocaine and intended to sell it.
Police seized cocaine, drug-packaging material, drug-packaging equipment, electronic scales, a money counting machine, more than $4,000, a Mac-11 machine gun, a handgun and a vehicle. They also seized thousands of dollars worth of property believed to be obtained through narcotics sales.
Rockford Register Star
Police looking for paintball shooters
SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Police Department is investigating 10 reports of someone shooting paintball guns at people and property throughout the city on March 8 and 10.
The damage has been minimal, but in at least two cases the perpetrators aimed and shot a paintball gun at senior citizens walking on the sidewalk.
The acts appear to be random, police said.
The men are described as white, one with brown hair. They are in a dark-colored Pontiac, possibly a Grand Am or a Grand Prix.
State Journal-Register
Officers shoot two pit bulls, arrest owner
PEORIA - Police fatally shot two pit bulls and arrested their owner Tuesday morning after a police officer was bitten as he entered an apartment to respond to a domestic disturbance report.
Police were called about 11 a.m. to an apartment, where they were told by Johnny P. Green, 26, they were not allowed to enter.
After going inside, police were forced to shoot and kill two pit bulls in their way, reports said. One officer, whose name was not available, was bitten. He was treated and released from an area hospital.
Green and a woman he was with were not seriously injured.
Green was arrested and booked on charges of aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting arrest, domestic battery and obstructing justice.
Journal Star, Peoria
Airline cuts could affect service to Peoria airport
PEORIA - With two of the nation's largest airlines announcing cuts at different levels on Tuesday, Greater Peoria Regional Airport Director Ken Spirito said the effects eventually could make a local impact.
United Airlines' plan to remove 15 to 20 older, less fuel-efficient airplanes from its fleet and possibly reduce capacity coincided with an announcement that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will offer voluntary severance payouts to roughly 30,000 employees - more than half its work force - and cut U.S. capacity by an extra 5 percent by August.
Both are among the five airlines that serve the Peoria airport.
"It doesn't surprise me," Spirito said of the announced cuts, noting the spike in fuel prices after the record-high surges in the cost of crude oil. "Eventually, we will see a trickledown here, there's no way to escape it."
United provides five daily flights to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and one daily flight to Denver; Delta has two daily flights to Atlanta from Peoria.
One thing working in Peoria's favor is strong demand for air service.
Despite a number of cancellations last month because of weather, the airport saw a more than 20 percent increase in air passenger traffic. That figure is up just more than 19 percent for the year compared to 2007. Seat capacity, with the addition of new destinations, also is up nearly as much.
Journal Star, Peoria
Special prosecutor wanted for trooper's case
GALESBURG - The case against an Illinois state trooper has been referred to the the Illinois Attorney General's Office for appointment of a special prosecutor.
Trooper Dirk Butler was arrested last month on a charge of making a harassing telephone call to his fiancee. No formal charges have yet been brought.
Citing potential conflict of interest, Knox County State's Attorney John Pepmeyer asked the court to appoint a special prosecutor.
"Dirk Butler was an Illinois state trooper at the time of the incident being investigated, and it would be a conflict based upon our previous working relationship with Mr. Butler," Pepmeyer said in his motion, filed March 10.
Judge James Stewart granted the request last Thursday and referred the matter to the state's attorney's appellate prosecutor's office.
Journal Star, Peoria