The Carbondale Observer

The Southern Illinoisan is reporting on a police standoff at Tan Tara Mobile Home Park on Saturday. The Southern article isn’t very detailed but there is more information on the Carbondale Police website:

Officer learned McCree brandished a weapon and made verbal threats to the victim and officers. McCree refused to surrender himself to officers. Neighboring trailers were evacuated and a perimeter was established. Negotiators made contact with McCree but he refused to surrender himself. The Police Department Special Response Team executed a search warrant at the trailer and chemical munitions were deployed. McCree immediately fled the residence and was taken into custody without incident. There were no injuries as a result of the arrest. McCree was charged with domestic battery and aggravated assault and incarcerated in the Jackson County Jail.

Police had been to the residence Friday night on a domestic disturbance call and decided to arrest McCree, who had already left the home. When he returned on Saturday, police received another call, which led to the standoff. The police also released a photo of the suspect:

Gregory S. McCree - Age 35 (Source: Carbondale Police Department)

The police press release doesn’t say what kind of weapon McCree brandished. It must have been quite a weapon if police evacuated the neighbors.

Comments are welcome.

I don’t know how I missed Tuesday’s Southern Illinoisan article about the botched retrial against mob action murder suspect Trevis Thompson in a 2003 shooting case. It looks like there is a dispute about who’s to blame for the dismissal in the case:

The shooting victim, Brad DeDecker, says the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s office dropped the ball. But prosecutors contend DeDecker declined to testify, which DeDecker angrily denies.

The Southern reported a couple of weeks ago that the State’s Attorney dropped the case because the victim refused to testify. At the time, I wondered why a shooting victim would refuse to testify. Intimidation was the only reason I could think of. DeDecker denies refusing to testify, but the Southern reports intimidation likely took place:  Read the rest of this entry »

The Carbondale Police Department has released more information about Saturday’s mob action and murder, including pictures of the suspects. From the news release:

The City of Carbondale Police Department Investigation Bureau conducted an investigation into this incident throughout the weekend. During the course of the investigation, officers arrested Trevis Thompson and Patrick Greene and charged them with Aggravated Battery, Mob Action and Murder. Both were incarcerated in the Jackson County Jail. The investigation revealed this incident was a result of a personal dispute between acquaintances.

And the photos: Read the rest of this entry »

As I’m sure everyone knows, there was a fight Saturday morning (Friday night) that lead to the death of one man, Orlando Clark, and the hospitalization of another man, Antonio Pugh. The Carbondale Police Department released this statement:

On November 20, 2010 at approximately 1:30 a.m., the City of Carbondale Police Department responded to a report of a large crowd fighting in the 100 block of South University.  Upon arrival, officers discovered that Orlando Lamont Clark, 34, a Carbondale resident, had been seriously injured during the fight.  Clark was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale where he later succumbed to his wounds.  Officers were also notified that Antonio Pugh, 28, a Carbondale resident, was at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale being treated for injuries he sustained during the same incident.

Two suspects are in custody and the investigation continues.  Should any further information become available it will be released Monday, November 22, 2010, at 12:00 p.m.  Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the police department at 457-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 549-COPS (2677).  Anonymous tips may also be made by selecting the “Crime Stoppers” tab located on the main page of this web site. Read the rest of this entry »