Body-camera footage released Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, by Rantoul police shows Officer Jose Aceves patting the front pocket the sweatshirt of Azaan Lee, 21, as he asks whats inside while talking with him about a report of a stolen vehicle late on the night of Feb. 6 near the intersection of Belle Avenue, Ohio Street and Tanner Avenue. Police Rantoul Police officials said Officers Jose Aceves and Rikki McComas were investigating a stolen vehicle when shots were fired. Rantoul officers questioned Lee when investigating a stolen vehicle. The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Irish dancing can be rhythmically infectious, and many of the dance numbers were accompanied, When I first heard about the movie Cocaine Bear, I thought it was a joke, something that s. Rantoul Police cleared in death of Black youth Brian Dolinar February 28, 2023 - 9:00am Lee family It's been three weeks since Azaan Lee ended up dead after an encounter with Rantoul police. However, I do not expect any additional evidence or information to affect or alter my preliminary opinions, she said. High 63F. The News Gazette reports Champaign County States Attorney Julia Rietz gave her preliminary legal opinion about the Feb. 6 death of Azaan Lee, 21, of Champaign. Rantoul, Illinois PD. James Schmidt said. We intend to make a full detailing of the events available to the public as soon as we are permitted to do so by the CCMJIT and the Champaign County States Attorney.. As they struggled, a single round fired from the inside of Mr. Lee's hoodie and Mr. Lee and Aceves both fell to the ground, then Mr. Lee quickly got up and ran northeast, with Aceves and McComas in pursuit. The incident happened Monday night in the 200 block of Campbell Ave. around 11:15. News and notes from our panel of 39 aspiring journalists from area schools. Aceves said he and Lee both had hold of the gun from the inside and outside of the sweatshirt pocket. Threats of harming another For others, home can be a person a parent, grandp. Aceves then got up and fired his duty weapon three times in Lees direction, but none of those shots hit him, police said. I then heard one shot fired," she wrote. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Brown said his department wants to be as transparent as possible and show the community what happened that night. PACAs efforts to salvage items from Illini Hall why Memorial Stadium is lit up long after the end of football season MTD fare info for townies who cross through the no-fare zone on campus info for rural readers who do not yet have broadband internet access plus much more. Many of the same people were returning to Police, social service agencies working together | News | rantoulpress.com Number of Vacancies: 2. Fax: 217-893-9556. [email protected]. . accounts, the history behind an article. About that same time, Mennenga heard Aceves say he was stopping a person he thought matched the description of the car thief at the intersection of Belle, North Ohio Avenue and North Tanner Street. The PD in Rantoul, Illinois is a 24-hour full service department. WAND TV. On-going maintenance as it pertains to lubrication of shafts, bearings, gears, chains and other critical parts, Mechanical. Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. They applied a tourniquet and got him in an ambulance. RANTOUL When Allen Jones Jr. was jail administrator of the Champaign County Correctional Center in 2012, he noticed a recurring problem. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Three officers were dispatched, at 8:40 p.m., to reports of kids breaking into a vehicle at . Aceves was hired by Rantoul police on April 9, 2022, and had been an officer with Mattoon police from February 2019 to April 2022. Rietz released a three-page synopsis Tuesday afternoon. Lee emptied his pants pockets, showing a lighter, change, and a headphones case. At GCMS: 'Watching the dads support their cheerleader and put themselves out there in front of all of our fans is always great for everyone to watch.'. February 21, 2023. Judge Ben Dyer set a Zoom status hearing on the petition for 1:30 p.m. Friday. He can be reached at [email protected]. Having a new therapy dog has given the kindergartners 'a sense of responsibility as one waters Cooper, others pet him, while some help to lead him down the hall. an individual's entire criminal history Area Police Reports. Jay Nixon and many others. Based on the seriousness of the offense, the high probability of Mr. Lee being a danger to the public, and believing Mr. Lee could possess another weapon to shoot at myself or Officer McComas, I discharged three rounds of my service weapon towards Mr. Lee (northeast), he wrote, adding he did not believe he hit him. Asked why he was in Rantoul, Mr. Lee said his uncle lived nearby, but he didnt know the address. He then ordered Mr. Lee to keep his hands away from his pockets. RANTOUL, Ill. (WAND) Students at Broadmeadow Elementary School in Rantoul have been getting to know the newest member of staff. Kimberly D. Cross, who listed an address in the 1000 block of Lancaster Drive, was arrested Monday on a warrant issued last month after she was charged with stealing from a former employer. Rantoul police were the first to acquire body cams in Champaign County, and still the results of this incident are the same. Rantoul Police Department Anthony J. King wrote that fewer than five minutes after hearing Aceves say he was out with the possible car thief, he heard a gunshot, then two more in quick succession. Obtain a Crash Report by Online. He said in his five years at the department, theyve never had an officer-involved shooting. Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. As Aceves talked to him, McComas arrived and asked Mr. Lee if he had taken the car for a joyride or if he had the key. We hope that by making these records available, it will start to provide some additional answers., Even when officers actions are within the legal boundaries of their authority, we know there is still healing that needs to take place, Brown said. On Wednesday, Champaign County States Attorney Julia Reitz said that the officers actions were legally justifiable.. The News-Gazette is publishing body-camera footage from officers Jose Aceves and Rikki McComas showing their altercation with Azaan Lee. The Rantoul Weekly Press was published in Rantoul, Illinois and with 16 searchable pages. Click here to see our subscription options. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Be Truthful. The Rantoul Police Department is in the process of equipping all 23 of its uniformed officers with body-cameras. Copyright2023. Pick the brain of veteran News-Gazette columnist Tom Kacich and veteran WDWS/WHMS radio personality Kathy Reiser. Few details of the incident have been released beyond a "physical encounter with an armed male subject and shots were fired.". In the interest of transparency, the Rantoul Police Department is making full reports and recordings available to the public, redacted only for personal or private information. 1807 S Neil St (at Fox Drive), Champaign, IL 61820, 3354 Big Pine Trl Ste C, Champaign, IL 61822. Policy, Rantoul, IL police records online for free, Criminal McComas asked him what was in his front sweatshirt pocket. Biden surveys Ida cleanup in, Newsfeed Now: UPS driver spreads joy with TikTok, Newsfeed Now: Hurricane Ida death toll rises after, Newsfeed Now: Supreme Court allows Texas abortion, Newsfeed Now: Pres. Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Rantoul, Illinois . Even when their use of force is legally justified, no officer ever wants something like this to happen on one of their calls, he said. Be Nice. King heard McComas say that the gun went off in Mr. Lee's sweatshirt, he may be hit and he ran north. The police department recognizes and understands the feelings of the public and the scrutiny of police actions which surround any serious use of force incident. Rantoul, Ill. (WCIA) This year, Rantoul is performing the new musical Stealing Shakespeare by Leon Kaye, Music by Christian Murray, Leon Kaye, and Archie Jury. You have permission to edit this article. This is a modern language musical, and we are the second school to perform it. We want these things to happen. The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. arrests, Click here to see our subscription options. King said he didnt know for certain until after Mr. Lee was en route to the hospital that it was Aceves who had fired the second round of shots. Low 32F. The male subject was identified by Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup as 21-year-old Azaan Lee of Champaign, Illinois, formerly of Chicago. Threats of harming another Once all information is collected, the full report will be forwarded to the Champaign County State Attorneys Office for review. How have the courts ruled on the constitutionality of similar bans? Police said Lee pulled away from Aceves with his hand in his pocket as Aceves reached into the pocket and grabbed the object, confirming it was a handgun. Unfortunately, when youre seeing where were encountering so many more handguns either on traffic stops or when were dealing with people, it just increases the risk of this type of tragedy happening again, he said. The footage, captured from the body camera of fellow Officer Rikki McCombas, shows Lee turn away from Aceves, after which a struggle ensues, they all go to the ground, a gunshot is heard, and Lee runs away, with Aceves firing three shots at him. We pride ourselves on our very small class sizes (15-20 per class). These concerns further justify his attempt to search Mr. Lee.. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Police said it was unclear then if Lee was involved in the car theft, and he told them he was there to see a friend who lives in the area. racist or sexually-oriented language. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Mennenga told Mr. Lee to leave, believing he had nothing to do with the car theft. The officers and staff of the Rantoul Police Department are committed to professionalism and community, and we will take an active role in answering questions and responding to the needs of our community as we continue forward.. Biden announces aggressive new, Newsfeed Now: Biden to launch new plan against COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Health experts concerned about COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Pres. Biden surveys Ida cleanup in, Newsfeed Now: UPS driver spreads joy with TikTok, Newsfeed Now: Hurricane Ida death toll rises after, Newsfeed Now: Supreme Court allows Texas abortion, Newsfeed Now: Pres. Azaan Lee, formerly of Chicago, died from his wounds after he was shot in the left leg, with the bullet perforating the femoral artery, according to Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup. Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. D. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Lee's family has been in contact with Illinois State Police investigators. Latest News. Within seconds, Aceves fired his weapon at Mr. Lee. UPDATE: Tornado watch issued until 3 p.m. RANTOUL Rantoul police have made public all the reports written by officers who were involved in a shooting that resulted in the death of a 21-year-old Chicago man and have released body-camera footage from those officers after reviewing it with the man's family. Keep it Clean. You have permission to edit this article. She was ordered to make restitution of $16,000. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. As McComas interviewed a relative of the car-theft victim, Mr. Lee kept interrupting and volunteered that he had been dropped off by a friend from Champaign just minutes before police arrived. Officer Aceves said he saw a black object with a circular hole, which appeared to be the bottom of a handgun magazine, in the sweatshirt pocket. She asked him to show them what was in his pockets and he began emptying his jean pockets. Rantoul Police Department Anthony J. 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