URBANA – Authorities have charged an Urbana man with attempted first-degree murder and several other crimes after he allegedly rammed a stolen truck into the Champaign County Satellite Jail Wednesday morning. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz says it all began when 37-year-old Yevgeniy Nikolaev allegedly stole a white Ford pickup truck from Feldkamp’s Towing…
URBANA – Auto shop owners and law enforcement in Champaign-Urbana are seeing an increase in vehicle catalytic converter thefts. Catalytic converters make toxic exhaust fumes less harmful for the environment and are located on the underside of vehicles. They also contain precious metals like rhodium, platinum and palladium that can sell for upwards of $19,000…
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign Chief of Police Anthony Cobb announced Thursday that he’ll step down from his position. He’s leaving the job to join the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, where he’ll serve as deputy director. Cobb was appointed in 2012 and has overseen the Champaign Police Department for more than nine years. Before…
This is a developing story. It will be updated as we learn new details. CHAMPAIGN – Champaign Police say a 17-year-old male was killed and four other people were wounded Friday afternoon, in a shooting at a large post-funeral gathering for a previous shooting victim at the American Legion Post 559 on Hickory Street on…
URBANA – The University of Illinois Police Department is planning to increase the number of mental health professionals on staff to help officers respond to crisis calls. Lieutenant Aaron Landers leads UIPD’s community outreach efforts, including the new mental health pilot program, known as Response, Evaluation and Crisis Health, or, REACH. He says the plan…
Editor’s Note: Illinois State Police released videos of the deadly May 19 shootings in Champaign. You can find a synced video of area surveillance cameras and police body cams here. The video is graphic. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. CHAMPAIGN – On the day after Champaign Officer Chris Oberheim’s funeral, Illinois State Police released surveillance…
DECATUR – An estimated 2,000 friends, family and police officers filled a church in Decatur Wednesday for the funeral of Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim. He was killed last week while answering a domestic disturbance call. The funeral was closed to the public and the news media. But the public was encouraged to come out…
CHAMPAIGN – A police officer killed in the line of duty will be laid to rest on Wednesday according to the Champaign Police Department. Officer Chris Oberheim was shot on May 19 during an apartment complex shootout. A second officer, Jeffrey Creel, was wounded by the alleged suspect as the officers responded to a report…
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign Police Officer Jeffrey Creel has been released from the hospital, after being wounded by gunfire during the domestic disturbance call, in which fellow Officer Chris Oberheim was killed. Meanwhile, a Decatur funeral home says Oberheim’s funeral will be held next week. Graceland-Fairlawn Funeral Home announced on its website that services will be…
CHAMPAIGN – A police processional escorted the body of a slain Champaign police officer from the Champaign county coroner’s office in Urbana to a funeral home in Decatur on Thursday. People lined the processional route in several locations, as the body of 44-year-old Chris Oberheim was taken to Graceland-Fairlawn Funeral Home. One of those locations…
URBANA – Many people lined up to honor a fallen Champaign police officer during a procession from Urbana to Decatur. Authorities say a gunman killed 44-year-old Officer Chris Oberheim during a shootout at an apartment complex early Wednesday. Here are pictures and video images from the procession to honor Oberheim on Thursday.
URBANA – A procession for fallen Champaign officer Chris Oberheim will wind through Central Illinois on Thursday afternoon. The Champaign Police Department said the procession will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Champaign County Coroner’s Office on Art Bartell Road in Urbana. It will proceed down Main and Vine Streets to University Avenue. From there…
CHAMPAIGN — A Champaign police officer and a city resident have both died after being shot when police responded to a domestic disturbance early Wednesday morning. 44-year-old Chris Oberheim was one of two officers that responded to a call for assistance on North Neil Street shortly after 3:00 a.m. Wednesday. Champaign Police say when officers…
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign community leaders called for an end to gun violence Friday, a day when three more people were injured by gunfire in the city. “The gun violence has to stop,” said Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen at a city hall news conference, where she was joined by Police Chief Anthony Cobb and two other…
URBANA – Most leaders from the Democratic and Republican parties in Illinois are saying publicly that they support the guilty verdict against a former Minneapolis officer. Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, the explosive case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism…