State briefs 6/29/2015

Man arrested after shots fired at trooper

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. -- Illinois State Police say a 52-year-old man suspected of firing shots at a state trooper has been arrested. State Police say Gregory K. Nelson of East St. Louis is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. He was arrested Saturday at an apartment in St. Ann, Missouri. Nelson has not entered a plea or appeared in court. According to state police, the trooper was fired on during a traffic stop Tuesday on Interstate 255 in East St. Louis. The trooper suspected the driver was intoxicated and asked him to get out of his vehicle. The driver pulled out a gun and fired at the trooper. The two exchanged gunfire, and the driver ran away. Neither was injured.

Flash flooding cited in camper's death

PRAIRIE HOME, Mo. -- A woman's body has been found downstream from where she had been camping. The body of 31-year-old Sarah Nicholls of Boonville, Missouri, was found Saturday in Moniteau County. Nicholls was reported missing Friday morning by her family. She had been camping in Prairie Home along the Moniteau Creek on Thursday night. Cooper County Sheriff Capt. Josh Rice said her friend went into town to get gas and returned to find Nicholls missing about midnight. Authorities believe she may have been swept away by flash-flood waters.

Ohio man drowns in James River

GALENA, Mo. -- Authorities say a Cincinnati man has drowned while kayaking on the James River in southwest Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the victim as 45-year-old Michael E. Brewer. The patrol report said he was hanging onto the kayak before he drowned Sunday at the Ralph Cox Memorial Access near Galena. The Stone County coroner pronounced him dead at the scene. No other information was immediately available.

Man drowns while launching boat

LA GRANGE, Mo. -- Authorities say a 23-year-old man has drowned while launching a boat at Wakonda State Park in northeast Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the victim as Richie L. Armour of the Missouri town of New London. The patrol says he drowned Saturday when he swam into Wakonda Lake to recover a boat that had come off its trailer and floated off. The Lewis County coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.

-- From wire reports