Latest news with #ChathamPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Squirrel on the run: Chatham Police shoo away animal refusing to leave resident's garage
Video courtesy of the Chatham Police Department CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — One 'nutty' animal was determined to stay put inside a homeowner's garage before Chatham Police were finally able to get it back out into the wild. In a Facebook post on Friday, the Chatham Police Department put out a video in which they were dispatched to a residence on Church Street. The caller said there was an animal inside of his garage and that he needed the department's help to get it out. Pet on the Set | Champaign County Animal Control Upon arrival, officers discovered a squirrel in the garage that wasn't too keen on leaving. Following an effort that lasted over two minutes, with the squirrel even trying to get into the house, the officers were able to shoo the animal away and have a good laugh with the homeowner. 'Our job is often so serious that we love to share stories showing you the lighter side of police work,' the department said in its post. 'PS – For those keeping score at home, that would be CPD 1, Squirrels 0!!' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Disturbing new theory about why female driver crashed into after school club and killed four young girls
The driver of a car that plowed through an after-school program and killed three young kids and a teen may have suffered a medical emergency. Marianne Akers' black Jeep rammed straight through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois, about 3.20pm on Monday. Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven, Ainsley Grace Johnson, eight, and Rylee Britton, 18, died and six other children were injured. Akers, 44, tested negative to drugs or alcohol and was not under the influence when she veered off the road 'a substantial distance' away, police said. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said evidence of a medical emergency was so far 'not conclusive' and the investigation was still ongoing. No decision has been made whether to charge Akers with any crime, he said. Akers was filmed in handcuffs, with her hair in a messy bun and wearing a dark grey T-shirt. She was uninjured despite crashing through a wall. Police at the time said she was taken to a local hospital for evaluation with toxicology results still pending, and was not under arrest. 'Akers is not in custody at this time as the cause of the crash remains under investigation,' Illinois State Police said on Tuesday. The Chatham Police Department debunked rampant social media rumors that Akers was drunk and failed a field sobriety test after the crash. 'This is not true. Please stop sharing this,' the department's Facebook page commented on a post claiming Akers was arrested for a suspected DUI. Akers is a food service worker at Chatham Elementary School and a mother of two children - a teenage boy and girl. Ainsley's grandfather Galen Johnson mourned her online with a photo of her in an adorable fancy dress outfit. 'Words alone cannot express the pain we in the Johnson family are feeling with the loss of granddaughter Ainsley Grace Johnson. Love you "Squirt!"' he wrote. Ainsley was a dancer at Studio M Dance Centre, where her teacher Mariah Clark promised to always remember her. 'Ainsley brought so much light and joy into my class, she always gave me a little hip-hop tude and I lived for it,' she said. 'Her smile was so bright, her personality was already so big at such a young age, and she danced like she meant it. I will forever keep Ainsley in my heart.' Britton was a senior at Glenwood High School and like many of the students who helped run the program, planned to be a teacher. 'One of my favorite things about her was how she was unconditionally nice to everyone,' a classmate said. 'She was super intelligent and always made people laugh.' Three of the victims were hit by the Jeep as they stood outside the building, while the fourth person who died was inside the building, police said. The six injured children were rushed to hospital, including one with injuries so severe they had to be airlifted for treatment. 'Postmortem procedures done today indicate that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident,' Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said. Akers is understood to have crashed her car into the east side of the school facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later. 'The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but this does not appear to be a targeted attack,' Illinois State Police said. The program is designed for school-aged children and is run by college students and 'very mature' high school seniors - most of whom have ambitions themselves of one day becoming educators. A fundraiser for the victims and their families has already attracted more than $75,000 in donations. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his horror on Monday afternoon, writing: 'Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time. 'Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them. 'Let's wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation.' Devastated locals recalled the moment their neighbors, friends, and loved ones learned of the tragedy and rushed to the scene. 'Watching people you know sprint past your house, not knowing if their children are safe, is a gut-wrenching experience. My heart aches for everyone,' one wrote. Employees and volunteers at the local blood bank, Impact Life, urged locals to give blood this week, as they drained much of their stockpile helping victims of the crash. 'After the tragic events today the blood bank is running low, please if your able go donate,' one woman wrote. Another said: 'I work at the Blood Center, and we had to pack up so much of our supply for this, so please if you can donate blood, platelets, any of it, go do it.' Illinois Senator Doris Turner said she was 'heartbroken' by the tragedy. 'When we drop our kids off in the morning, we should always have the utmost belief that they will come home safely at the end of the day,' she wrote. 'For some families, that belief was shaken today following the tragedy at YNOT in Chatham. 'I am heartbroken - there truly are no words to explain what the Chatham community is feeling and will feel for days, weeks and months to come. 'I want to thank the first responders, law enforcement and volunteers.' The local Chick-Fil-A has offered all first responders a free meal on Monday and Tuesday in response to the tragedy. YNOT, which stands for Youth Needing Other Things, is a summer and after school camp offering three hours of care for busy parents with little ones. The Chatham Baptist Church has become the makeshift reunification point for families who have children at YNOT.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Girls killed after being mown down by mom-of-two who plowed into after-school club... as driver remains free
A school worker killed killed three young kids and a teen after a car she was driving plowed through an after-school program in Illinois. Marianne Akers's black Jeep rammed straight through the YNOT Outdoors Summer And After School Camp in Chatham, exiting the other side of the building about 3.20pm on Monday. Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven, Ainsley Johnson, eight, and Rylee Britton, 18, died from blunt force trauma injuries, the coroner said. Six other children were injured, one of whom is still in critical condition. Two of them were identified as Mia and Emma. Three of the victims were hit by the Jeep as they stood outside the building, while the fourth person who died was inside the building, police said. The six injured children were rushed to hospital, including one with injuries so severe they had to be airlifted for treatment. 'Postmortem procedures done today indicate that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident,' Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said. Akers is understood to have crashed her car into the east side of the school facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later. 'The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but this does not appear to be a targeted attack,' Illinois State Police said. After the shocking incident Akers, 44, was filmed in handcuffs wearing a dark gray T-shirt. She was uninjured despite crashing through walls. She was taken to a local hospital for evaluation with toxicology results still pending, but was not placed under arrest. 'Akers is not in custody at this time as the cause of the crash remains under investigation,' Illinois State Police said. Chatham Police Department debunked rampant social media rumors that Akers was drunk and failed a field sobriety test after the crash. 'This is not true. Please stop sharing this,' the department's Facebook page commented on a post claiming Akers was arrested for a suspected DUI. Akers is a food service worker at Chatham Elementary School and a mother of two children - a teenage boy and girl. Ainsley's grandfather Galen Johnson mourned her online with a photo of her in an adorable fancy dress outfit. 'Words alone cannot express the pain we in the Johnson family are feeling with the loss of granddaughter Ainsley Grace Johnson. Love you "Squirt!"' he wrote. Ainsley was a dancer at Studio M Dance Centre, where her teacher Mariah Clark promised to always remember her. 'Ainsley brought so much light and joy into my class, she always gave me a little hip-hop tude and I lived for it,' she said. 'Her smile was so bright, her personality was already so big at such a young age, and she danced like she meant it. I will forever keep Ainsley in my heart.' Britton was a senior at Glenwood High School and like many of the students who helped run the program, planned to be a teacher. 'One of my favorite things about her was how she was unconditionally nice to everyone,' a classmate said. 'She was super-intelligent and always made people laugh.' A fundraiser for the victims and their families has already attracted more than $75,000 in donations. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his horror, writing: 'Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time. 'Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them. 'Let's wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation.' Devastated locals recalled the moment their neighbors, friends, and loved ones learned of the tragedy and rushed to the scene. 'Watching people you know sprint past your house, not knowing if their children are safe, is a gut-wrenching experience. My heart aches for everyone,' one wrote. Employees and volunteers at the local blood bank, ImpactLife, urged locals to give blood as they drained much of their stockpile helping victims of the crash. 'After the tragic events today the blood bank is running low, please if your able go donate,' one woman wrote. Another said: 'I work at the blood center, and we had to pack up so much of our supply for this, so please if you can donate blood, platelets, any of it, go do it.' Shock speed: Akers is understood to have crashed her car into the side of the school facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later Illinois Senator Doris Turner said she was 'heartbroken' by the tragedy. 'When we drop our kids off in the morning, we should always have the utmost belief that they will come home safely at the end of the day,' she wrote. 'For some families, that belief was shaken today following the tragedy at YNOT in Chatham. 'I am heartbroken - there truly are no words to explain what the Chatham community is feeling and will feel for days, weeks and months to come. 'I want to thank the first responders, law enforcement and volunteers.'
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Indian Express
Authorities believe crash through Illinois after-school building that killed 4 wasn't targeted
A crash through an after-school building in a small city outside of Springfield, Illinois, that killed three children and a teenager and left several others injured isn't believed to be a targeted attack, authorities said Tuesday. The car left the road for unknown reasons, traveled through a field and into the side of the building in Chatham on Monday afternoon, Illinois State Police said in a statement. It traveled through the building, striking numerous people before exiting the other side. Police said two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old and an 18-year-old were killed. Six more children were taken to hospitals and one remains in critical condition. The driver, who was not injured, was taken to a hospital for evaluation and police said toxicology reports were pending. Police haven't said if the driver was arrested or taken into custody. The cause was under investigation, but police said the crash doesn't appear to be a targeted attack. Monday's crash was the latest instance of people driving vehicles into groups of people across the globe. Only two days earlier, a car plowed through a crowded street during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, killing struck building and facilities in Illinois house Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors, which holds after-school programs and summer camps, according to its website. 'I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon,' Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement Monday. 'My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they're experiencing – something that no parent should ever have to endure.'He said his office was monitoring the situation and was ready to lend support. As evening fell Monday, police cars with lights flashing still blocked streets leading to the building. On its Facebook account, the Chatham Police Department asked for prayers.'A terrible tragedy has occurred here that has affected all of us,' the message ended. By Monday night, some members of the community and beyond had changed their Facebook profile photos to an image of a red ribbon and the words 'Chatham Strong.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
29-04-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Vehicle Smashes Through Illinois Building, Killing 4 Young People and Injuring Others
A car smashed through a building Monday afternoon, killing four young people and injuring several others during an after-school program in a small city outside of Springfield, Illinois, police said. Officers responded at about 3:20 p.m. to calls about a vehicle ramming through the building, fatally hitting four people before exiting the other side, Chatham Police Department Deputy Chief Scott Tarter said. Those killed were between the ages of 4 and 18, Illinois State Police said in an emailed statement. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon identified the victims as 'female students,' saying their identities will be released after family members are notified. Several other people were hurt and taken to hospitals, reported The Associated Press. It wasn't immediately known what led up to the crash or whether it was intentional. Monday's crash is the latest instance of people driving vehicles into groups of people across the globe. Only two days earlier, a car plowed through a crowded street during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, killing 11. The Illinois driver, who was uninjured, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, Tarter said. Police haven't said if the driver was arrested or taken into custody. 'I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. 'My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they're experiencing – something that no parent should ever have to endure.' He said his office was monitoring the situation and was ready to lend support. The struck building and facilities house Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors, which holds after-school programs and summer camps, according to its website. As evening fell, police cars with lights flashing still blocked streets leading to the building. On its Facebook account, the Chatham Police Department asked for prayers. 'A terrible tragedy has occurred here that has affected all of us,' the message ended. By Monday night, some members of the community and beyond had changed their Facebook profile photos to an image of a red ribbon and the words 'Chatham Strong.'
