Man charged in incident near murder scene
CHAMPAIGN — A Champaign man was formally charged Thursday after a gun-related incident Wednesday near where a man was murdered a week ago.
Benjamin Sayles, 19, who listed an address in the 1900 block of Karen Court, Champaign, was arraigned Thursday on a single count of armed violence, alleging that on Wednesday night he had a gun while in possession of cocaine.
Assistant State's Attorney Chris Kanis said a police officer stopped Sayles for walking in the road near the intersection of Bradley and McKinley avenues just before 8 p.m. He ran from officers, throwing down a loaded 9 mm handgun as he ran.
Kanis said police caught him quickly and arrested him. During a search at the jail, police found 3.2 grams of suspected cocaine on Sayles.
The armed violence charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of between 15 and 30 years.
Kanis said Sayles is currently on parole for delivery of a controlled substance. He also has a 2009 conviction for robbery.
Judge John Kennedy set Sayles' bond at $150,000 and told him to be back in court Aug. 30.
The area where Sayles was arrested is the same location that a man was murdered about 2:40 a.m. on Friday, July 1. Keontae Campbell, 24, of Champaign, is accused of fatally shooting Nathan Barker, 26, there.
And it's only blocks from the Hedge Road address where Laquincy Harmon, 30, of Champaign, is alleged to have shot Mario Pettigrew, 18, of Champaign, about 11 p.m. Monday, July 4.
It will be interesting to see what sentence he will receive for these offenses. I would assume a guilty verdict (if it is not pled out) but you can never be too sure with the jury pool in Champaign County. Being that he is already on parole for a similar offense (less the possession of a firearm) he should have a parole hold and should be back on his way to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
But nice work officers! Now how about some positive comments as it is time the community supports the police department and recognizes what they do for our community rather than picking them apart.
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