Police News 07-30-14

Suspicious Man Complaint Leads To Arrest (Canton, IL) -- Canton police arrested a Canton man on drug related charges over the weekend. Canton police say they responded to an address on West Vine Street Saturday morning at just before 3:45 on the report of a suspicious person at the address. The complainant told police that the man was knocking at her door and she didn't know who he was. Police located the man in a parking lot located near Main and Vine Streets. He was identified as 33-year old James L. Coulter. Police say that it appeared that Coulter was intoxicated. He was also found to be in possession of a pipe that is used to smoke cannabis. He was arrested and taken to the Canton Police Department where he was processed on a charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Coulter was given a notice to appear and released after being given an August Fulton County Court date in Lewistown. Canton Man Arrested On Underage Drinking Charge (Canton, IL) -- A Canton man is facing charges after it was determined that he had been drinking alcohol and was not of legal age to do so. Police say they responded to Moore’s Pub located at 168 East Elm Street in Canton Friday night at just after 11:35 after receiving a complaint that an underage male was taking beer that customers were leaving on the bar and then drinking it. Police identified the man as 20-year old Dacota C. Purtle. He was then arrested and taken to the Canton Police Department. He was processed on a charge of Unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor and then released with a notice to appear. Purtle was given an August Fulton County Court date in Lewistown. Woman Dies Trying To Retrieve Cell Phone (Bartonville, IL) -- A woman from the central Illinois town of Bartonville died after running back into her burning home to get her cell phone. Police say the woman and her teenage daughter had safely escaped the burning home early yesterday morning, but the woman ran back inside. A police officer followed her into the house to try to rescue her, but was overcome by smoke and had to be hospitalized. The woman was identified as 44-year old Wendy Rybolt. Mercer County Treasurer Admits to Stealing Money (Mercer County, IL) -- The former Mercer County treasurer is facing prison time after he admitted to stealing 13-thousand-dollars from the 9-1-1 fund. Mike Bertelson resigned his post on Monday after pleading guilty to the crime. He'll be sentenced October 20th and faces anywhere from probation to up seven-years behind bars. Bertelsen was in his fifth term as treasurer. Man Stabbed Banker 50-Times (Cairo, IL) -- More details are being released about a deadly bank heist in Cairo. Officials say James Watts forced three women back inside the First National Bank after it closed back in May. He then allegedly cut each other their throats and stabbed one of the victims 50-times. Watts had previous contact with one of the women, who'd turned him in for trying to cash stolen checks back in 2009. During a standoff with police after the murders, Watts asked if the three women were dead. When police answered no, he allegedly said, "Yes they are, I made sure of it."