Police Report

CRIME WATCH

Former Fulton man indicted on meth, f irearms charges

ROCKFORD – A former F u l t o n m a n w a s i n d i c t e d Tuesday on federal drug and firearms charges.

Bradley Scott Goddard, 33, n o w o f C l i n t o n , I o w a , i s charged with possession of a controlled substance (more than 50 grams of methamphetamine) with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Rockford said in a news release.

Goddard possessed the drugs and firearm on Sept. 8 in Fulton, the indictment states. That’s when he was arrested by Fulton police.

He pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Goddard initially was charged Sept. 9 in Whiteside County Court with armed violence, for possessing a Ruger handgun along with methamphetamine, a charge that. carries a minimum of 15 years in prison; possession with intent to deliver more than 100 but less than 400 grams of meth, punishable by a minimum of 9 to 40 years; possession of more than 100 but less than 400 grams of meth,

punishable by a minimum 6 to 30 years; possession of a weapon by a felon, which carries a minimum of 3 to 14 years; and escape, which c a r r i e s 3 t o 7 y e a r s , f or e s c a p i n g f r o m a F u l t o n Bradley Goddard police officer, court documents show. Those charges were dismissed Tuesday when the circuit court judge learned federal charges were being filed. Goddard also was charged in Lee County in August 2019 with felony retail theft and was free after posting $730 of his $7,300 bond that September, then failed to pay or appear starting that October. That case is pending. He was sentenced in Whiteside County to 2 years in prison in February 2020 for theft worth more than $500 but less than $10,000 in a 2019 case. He stopped paying his fines in March and was sent to a collections agency, court records show. Fulton Police Chief Nicholas Neblung, the Morrison Police Department and the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the federal investigation, the release said.

POLICE REPORTS

Jan. 15

Josephitis Stanley of Forreston was cited for no valid registration at 14th Avenue and Route 84. He was released with a notice to appear.

Jan. 20

Makayla A. Warren of Clinton, Iowa, was cited for operating a vehicle with an expired registration in the 400 block of 19th Avenue. She was released with a promise to comply.

Jan. 24

Christopher E. Easter of Fulton was cited for no valid driver’s license in the 1400 block of Seventh Avenue. He was released with a notice to appear.

Morrison

Arrests

On Wednesday, Jan. 19, Morrison police arrested David W. Byerley, 52, of Sterling pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Whiteside County charging Byerley with failure to appear – driving while license suspended. Byerley was transported to the Whiteside County Jail.

On Friday, Jan. 21, about 12:30 p.m., Morrison police responded to a domestic dispute at 409 W. Lincolnway, Morrison. As a result of the investigation, Morrison police arrested and charged Megan C. Kochevar, 36, of Morrison, with domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor) and possession of methamphetamine (less than 5 grams, Class 3 felony). Kochevar was transported to the Whiteside County Jail.

On Tuesday, Jan. 25, about 10:11 a.m., Morrison police responded to a motor vehicle crash involving a parked vehicle. The suspect vehicle had left the scene. As a result of the investigation, on Jan. 28, Morrison police arrested and charged Kevin J. Wiebenga, 32, of Morrison, with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to give information – striking an unattended vehicle (Class A misdemeanor). Wiebenga was released with a notice to appear for Feb. 14.

Individuals names in the above report have been merely accused of a charge. They are presumed innocent until proved guilty.

GOVERNMENT NEWS

Bills propose arming DCFS workers, reinstating death penalty for those killing f irst responders

Two Republican state lawmakers from northwest Illinois introduced legislation Wednesday they said is in response to the line-of-duty deaths of workers from the Department of Children and Family Services and other first responders.

State Rep. Tony McCombie of the 71st District has a package of bills for the 102nd General Assembly’s spring session, including one that allows caseworkers to be armed in the course of their duties.

She said hers is in direct response to the Jan. 4 death of Deidre Silas, who was stabbed during a visit in Thayer and the Feb. 8, 2018, slaying of Pam Sue Knight of Dixon.

State Sen. Neil Anderson of the 36th District filed a bill to reinstate the death penalty for individuals found guilty of killing first responders. McCombie’s package also includes a death-penalty provision.

“Children and adult protective services caseworkers and investigators deserve the same worker safety protections as other first responders in the performance of their, too seldom recognized, life-saving duties,” McCombie said in a news release.

McCombie’s proposals:

House Bill 4636: Allows DCFS caseworkers to carry concealed handguns and sets training requirements.

HB 4637: Reinstates the death penalty for adults in the killing of police officers, firefighters and workers in the areas of child or adult protective services and those who supervise sexually violent persons.

HSB 3933: Clarifies that an attack against a DCFS or Adult Protective Services workers is the same as attacking a firefighter or teacher.

The intent of that last bill has been one the House Republicans have advocated for since the Knight slaying, McCombie said.

Anderson’s proposal, Senate Bill 3125, extends first responder language to include police, firefighters, EMT/ paramedics, ambulance drivers, firstaid personnel, employees of the Department of Corrections and other similar agencies.

“These are people who wake up every day to serve and protect our communities, the people on our streets, our homes and our loved ones,” Anderson said in a news release. “We owe it to the first responder community to make sure that anyone who attacks them is held accountable to the highest possible level.”

Anderson notes that 27 states have death-penalty sentences for the killing of a police officer. Former Republican Gov. George Ryan imposed a moratorium on Illinois state executions in 2003 before commuting all death sentences to life in prison. Illinois lawmakers, under Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, later abolished the death penalty in 2011.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

State Rep. Tony McCombie State Sen. Neil Anderson