New information released about Bureau County escapee

As Joshua Drinnon remains at large, prison officials have released information about Drinnon and what brought him to the Illinois Valley in the first place.

Drinnon was on his way back to Richard Donovan state prison in San Diego after making a court appearance in Tennessee for an aggravated robbery charge. He is serving a 17-year sentence in San Diego for robbery and faces another six years for aggravated robbery in Tennessee.

While under the watch of a private company called Inmate Services Transport Company, prison officials say Drinnon got out of his restraints, scaled a fence and ran into a cornfield at the westbound rest area near Princeton. At the time of his escape he was wearing a white t-shirt and red wind suit pants.

The manhunt has been scaled back a bit as police now are just responding to potential sightings.

Gas prices in the Illinois Valley continue to fall

Gas prices continue to head back down towards two dollars a gallon.

According to GasBuddy.com, you can fill up in La Salle and Peru for as low as $2.25 a gallon. Gas in Princeton, Ottawa, Streator, and Spring Valley is going for $2.29 a gallon. Stations in Mendota have been slower to come down with prices ranging from $2.45 to $2.49 a gallon.

The average price of gas statewide is $2.66 a gallon, down about 20 cents from last week.

Hitchhiker in Peru was wanted by the U.S. Marshall’s Service

A fugitive has been arrested in Peru but its not who you’re thinking.

Peru Police say they saw 53-year-old Randy DeLaCruz hitchhiking Thursday night on Plank Road. He said he was looking for a ride to a motel in Peru.

The officer checked his background and found DeLaCruz was wanted on a U.S. Marshall’s warrant for violating parole on a homicide charge. He was arrested on the warrant and for being a fugitive from justice.

DeLaCruz who has a San Diego address was taken to the county jail in Ottawa.

Early dismissals leading into long holiday weekend

Some students will get an extended holiday weekend because of the heat.

L-P High School is letting out at 12:50 today while students will be sent home at Ottawa High starting at 12:40. Schools in Princeton, Marseilles and Mendota are dismissing around 1:30.

You can find a list of early dismissals by clicking the red banner at the top of Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO.com.

Active search suspended for escapee in Bureau County

It’s been over 36 hours since Joshua Drinnon escaped at a rest stop on westbound Interstate 80 near Princeton, and the Illinois State Police say the active search for him in the area has been suspended.

Drinnon still hasn’t been found and police will handle possible sightings of him on a case-by-case basis. A few sightings yesterday failed to turn up the escapee.

The United States Marshall Service has taken over the case. Drinnon has been able to evade capture despite dogs, officers, airplanes and helicopters all being used to find him.

He was on his way to San Diego from Tennessee facing a charge of aggravated robbery. He’s considered dangerous so if you spot him, don’t approach him, just call the police.