(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
Dec. 3
Eric K. Myers, 39, of O’Fallon, Mo., was arrested for DUI, improper lane usage and failure to signal on Ester Avenue at Centerville Road. He was also arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant out of Missouri.

Illinois State Police
Dec. 1
Columbia police and fire personnel joined Dupo EMS and Monroe County EMS in assisting ISP about 5:50 p.m. with two separate vehicle crashes on I-255 northbound near milepost 6. The crashes were caused by a mattress in the roadway that had apparently flown off the back of an unidentified vehicle. A car struck the mattress and stopped, which resulted in a Corvette slamming into its rear. Both occupants of the Corvette were transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, one of which was a head laceration. Another car driving on I-255 ran over the mattress, resulting in it getting caught underneath the vehicle and causing sparks. No injuries were reported in that crash.

Monroe County Sheriff
Nov. 15
Camden M. Hurst, 20, of Waterloo, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone) following an Oct. 10 incident.
Nov. 28
Steven Willyard, 28, of Waterloo, was arrested at the courthouse on a Monroe County warrant while there to obtain a marriage license.
Nov. 29
Jeff G. Benson, 41, of Bluford, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone) outside of the Fountain Inn tavern.
Dec. 1
Tanya L. Taylor, 40, of Jacob, was charged with theft following a July 21 incident at Back Street Wine & Dine in Hecker. A bench trial is set for Jan. 18.
Dec. 2
Harold Auvenshine, 38, was arrested for domestic battery following an incident on East Lincoln Street in Hecker.
Dec. 4
Nicholas A. Shrum, 34, of Waterloo, was arrested for obstructing identification. He was also charged by Waterloo police with criminal damage to property and resisting arrest following an incident on Briarwood Drive involving a safe that was damaged by an electric grinder.
Dec. 6
Police, fire and emergency personnel responded about 1 a.m. to a vehicle crash on Country Club Lane near Sherwood Lane in Waterloo. Two people were transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County for treatment of injuries not considered life-threatening. Both Survival Flight and Arch medical helicopters were put on standby, but neither could fly due to weather. A St. Louis County police helicopter was requested to help search for a man believed missing as a result of the crash. The man was eventually reached by phone away from the scene and was thought to be uninjured but uncooperative with police. No other information was available.

Waterloo Police
Dec. 1
Madelyn McGinnis, 19, of Waterloo, was arrested in the 500 block of Park Street for possession of a hypodermic needle and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Dec. 3
Shyann M. Baker, 19, of Waterloo, was cited for possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and disobeying a traffic control device on Fourth Street at South Main.
Dec. 4
James Setzer, 41, of Waterloo, was issued a city ordinance violation for public intoxication in the 300 block of Hickory Street.