Elderly driver in Oglesby accused of intentionally ramming another car

It’s not as unique a nickname as “No Teeth Keith” but a guy who goes by “Killer” found his way into the police blotter.

Eighty-three-year-old John “Killer” Zielinski of Oglesby is accused of putting his car into reverse and intentionally ramming a parked car in Oglesby. He was arrested Wednesday morning for reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and improper backing.

Zielinski was released on bond.

Latest on the arrests of two men who caused a manhunt in the Illinois Valley

Burglary is the charge for the guys that had 70 police officers searching for them in Utica.

23-year-old Julian Bynum of Harvey and 22-year-old Deonte Harris of Chicago made their initial court appearance Friday in Ottawa. Bynum needs $10,000 to get out of jail while Harris needs to come up with $7,500.

Despite the initial call of an armed robbery at CVS Pharmacy in Peru Thursday afternoon, La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne says the men didn’t have a weapon on them or in their getaway car that they ditched before running into the woods yesterday afternoon in Utica. During the manhunt, both Waltham South Elementary School and J.C. Whitney were put on lock down.

Harris and Bynum both are using public defenders. Harris is due back in Ottawa court for arraignment on Christmas Eve while Bynum’s next court date is January 14th.

Lower gas prices hanging around in the Illinois Valley

Hitting the road to see the family for Christmas will hurt the bank account a lot less this year than last Christmas.

According to GasBuddy.com, you can fill up in Peru for $1.75 a gallon. Unleaded in La Salle and Utica is going for $1.77 a gallon. Gas in Ottawa, Oglesby, Streator, Princeton and Mendota ranges from $1.82 to $1.85 a gallon.

The average price of gas statewide is $2, which is about 50 cents below what it was a year ago.

La Salle County being sued for mistreatment by former high-profile inmate

A now infamous doctor from Peru is suing La Salle County for what he claims was mistreatment while behind bars.

According to the NewsTribune, Constantino Perales has filed a federal suit saying he was subjected to sleep deprivation, verbal abuse and intimidation and was put in a “suicide cell” for over a month without explanation. He spent about three months in the Ottawa jail and during his initial court appearances complained to the judge about bright lights and other things making it hard for him to sleep in jail.

Perales’ clinic in Peru was raided in August of 2013. He’s facing over 30 federal charges for dealing prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs. Prosecutors have said they think Perales was exchanging drugs for sex.

Right now he’s out of police custody.

Family loses house during fire south of Princeton

A Tiskilwa family lost their home in a fire blamed on a wood stove.

At around 8:30 Thursday morning, firefighters from across Bureau County responded to a house fire in rural Tiskilwa. When firefighters got there, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the basement.

The homeowner, Curt Dugosh was there when the fire started but got out okay. Four others who live at the home were gone when the fire started.

Princeton Fire Chief Chuck Woolley says the fire started because of a malfunction in an outdoor wood stove that was being used to heat the home. Nobody was hurt and the Red Cross is helping the family.

Cocaine bust made in La Salle

Another potential drug dealer has been taken off the streets in the Illinois Valley.

D’Andre Henderson of Spring Valley was arrested Wednesday in La Salle for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. He’s accused of selling cocaine to an undercover officer.

Henderson’s bond was set at $1,000,000. He’s also facing charges of mob action and battery. Henderson is due back in Ottawa court next Thursday.

“No Teeth Keith” still evading police

In the case of Keith “No Teeth Keith” Cousins, no news is bad news.

Illinois State Trooper Jason Wilson says the 23-year-old Streator man wanted for a stabbing is still on the run. Wilson says they’ve received only a couple leads but none have panned out.

A warrant was issued earlier this week for Cousins after police think he stabbed another man during a street fight Saturday in the Whiteside County town of Lyndon. He’s wanted for felony aggravated battery.

If you provide information on finding Cousins which leads to an arrest and conviction, you could get up to a thousand dollar reward. Call the Streator Crime Stoppers if you have information.