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Involuntary manslaughter charge dropped
URBANA – A special prosecutor today dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against former Champaign City Council member J.W. Pirtle, after Pirtle agreed to have a judge and not a jury decide if he's guilty of criminal housing management.
Champaign County Judge Heidi Ladd then continued Pirtle's case again to Aug. 30 after hearing from defense attorney Mark Lipton of Champaign and Michael Vujovich of the state appellate prosecutor's office that they are working on a set of stipulations that should streamline the evidence for Ladd to consider.
Deaths likely not a random act
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign police say they are making progress investigating the case of a couple found slain in their southwest Champaign home on the Fourth of July.
Champaign Deputy Chief Troy Daniels said the murders of Jerry and Sue Haigh of 1702 Scottsdale Drive have "dramatically impacted that neighborhood and the quality of life of those people."
Second suspect in beating death of Urbana man arrested at home
MONTICELLO – A man wanted in connection with the murder of an Urbana man was arrested this morning in Mansfield.
Piatt County Sheriff Robert Manint said Illinois State Police arrested Jerry D. Henderson, 45, of Mansfield near his home at 10:30 a.m.
Citizens police review board idea receives good reception in Urbana
URBANA – A proposal to create a citizens police review board in Urbana to investigate complaints against police officers is getting mostly positive reviews.
But the union for city police, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 70, is arguing that the proposal still has to be negotiated, which could delay passage.
Man arrested for hitting motorcycle, leaving scene
CHAMPAIGN – An Ogden man is accused of smashing a motorcycle into the back of a police squad car, then leaving the scene early Sunday.
Joshua Joy, 21, was arrested by Champaign police for leaving the scene of an accident, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and having no insurance, according to a Champaign police report.
Jury convicts man on home invasion, sex abuse charges
URBANA – It took a Champaign County jury less than three hours Friday to find a Champaign man guilty of home invasion and criminal sexual abuse for an attack on a woman in her apartment two years ago.
Judge Harry Clem set sentencing for Patrick Thompson for Aug. 7.
Officer stationed at Centennial follow recent altercations
CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign police officer will patrol the hallways of Centennial High School for the next three weeks.
The Champaign school district decided to add a school resource officer for its second high school summer school session, which started Wednesday, in the wake of several fights at the school last week. Assistant Superintendent Ecomet Burley said district officials hope the presence of the officer will deter students from causing any trouble during the remaining weeks of summer school.
Courtwatching report notes improvements in legal system
URBANA – Observers of Champaign County's court system believe things have improved in the last year, according to a report released today.
The second annual report of the Champaign County Courtwatching Project concludes that juries are more reflective of the population of the county and that judges are doing a better job of explaining proceedings to defendants and litigants.
Autopsy shows Champaign couple died violently
URBANA – Preliminary autopsy results on a Champaign husband and wife found dead in their home Tuesday night reveal they died violently.
Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup confirmed that the couple found in the home at 1702 Scottsdale Drive was Jeremiah Haigh, 58, and Sue Haigh, 66, the owners of the home. They were pronounced dead at their home at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Two found dead in Champaign home
CHAMPAIGN – Autopsies are scheduled this afternoon in Bloomington for two people found dead Tuesday night in a southwest Champaign home.
"We are treating it as a homicide at this point," said Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup.
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