Region briefs 1/16/07

Jackson state trooper promoted to corporal

Trooper Justin L. McCullough was promoted Jan. 7 to the rank of corporal and designated the assistant zone commander of Zone 7, Dent County. McCullough is a native of Jackson. McCullough was appointed to the Highway Patrol Academy in 2001 and upon his graduation was assigned to Crawford County in Troop I. He received a work recognition award for making the most felony arrests in Troop I in 2002 and received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award in 2003 for leading the troop in DWI arrests. Capt. Randy L. Becker, commanding officer of Troop I, Rolla, Mo., announced the promotion.

Ill. state police release drunken driving figures

The Illinois State Police District 22 released enforcement figures for the recent Alcohol Countermeasures Enforcement program. ACE patrols are designed to remove impaired drivers from the roadways. Three details were conducted Dec. 9, 21 and 30, said Capt. Harry Masse, District 22 commander, in a news release Monday. Police arrested several people; three for driving under the influence of alcohol, 10 for occupant restraint violations and 27 for speeding. Seventeen speed warnings were issued. There were eight other alcohol and drug-related arrests and two zero-tolerance arrests. Masse said a total of 80 warnings and 45 citations were issued. He reported that the district made 316 DUI arrests in 2006.

Man accused of abduction dies prior to hearing

A Brighton, Ill., man charged with felony child abduction died before his pretrial court hearing Dec. 28 in Alexander County circuit court. Donald W. Miller, 69, died Dec. 25 at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, Ill. Miller was accused of attempting to kidnap the 13-year-old daughter of Alexander County commissioner candidate Duane "Street Preacher" Lyon. The alleged incident occurred during a Labor Day festival Sept. 4 in Olive Branch, Ill. Illinois Massac County State's Attorney Patrick Windhorst is acting as special prosecutor in the case. Windhorst said Wednesday that Miller's Cape Girardeau attorney, Gary Stark, will file Miller's documents with the court. Windhorst said Dec. 30 while Stark notified him of Miller's absence in court, a certified death certificate had not been received by his office, so Windhorst arranged for a continuance of Miller's court date and a Jan. 9 trial date.

-- From staff reports