Crime of the Week
Crime of the Week 10-9-23
The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.
On October 4th, 2023 at approximately 5:00 A.M. Decatur Police were dispatched to McDonalds located at 962 W Eldorado in reference to an aggravated robbery. Officers arrived on scene and spoke to two employees who advised they were outside the business when they were approached by a w/f suspect who implied she had a firearm. This suspect pushed something hard into the lower back of one of the employees and attempted to force them inside the building. The employees realized the suspect wasn’t armed and she took off running N/B towards Cerro Gordo street.
The W/F suspect was observed to be wearing a “black panther” mask and had a gray colored backpack. The suspect was wearing blue hooded sweatshirt with a red t-shirt underneath, dark colored pants, and black flip flops.
Pictures of the suspect can be observed on Decatur Crime Stoppers website under the “crime of the week” tab. (photos below).
If you have any information regarding this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS. You do not have to give your name. Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week. Thank you.
Past Crimes of the Week
News Release 1/11/21
The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.
On December 22nd at approximately 10:00 PM, Decatur Police responded to the 200 block of W Leafland in reference to a shooting. On arrival, they located a gunshot victim inside a vehicle, later identified as Jayleon Cummings who was deceased.
Witnesses in the area informed police they heard numerous gun shots. A silver or gray colored 4-Door Sedan with tinted windows was observed traveling E/B in the 200 block of W Leafland at a high rate of speed after the shooting.
If you have any information regarding this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 423-TIPS. You do not have to give your name. Crime Stoppers will pay $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest on this homicide. Thank you.
News Release 1/4/21
The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.
On December 29th, 2020 at approximately 7:30PM Decatur Police responded to Little Caesars located at 1925 N Water in reference to an aggravated robbery.
Officers arrived on scene and spoke to the employees who advised a suspect just entered the business and displayed a handwritten note which stated “empty the register.” The suspect kept one hand in his hooded shirt implying he had a handgun. During this interaction the suspect spoke and the employees said the suspect had a deep voice. The suspect left Little Caesars on foot in a S/W direction.
The suspect was described as dark skinned b/m, average build, approx. 5’10” – 6’0” tall, wearing a blue hooded shirt, blue colored face mask, and gray colored pants. The suspect was observed to have a tattoo on the top of his left hand between his thumb and index finger.
If you have any information regarding this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 423-TIPS. You do not have to give your name. Crime Stoppers will pay $500 dollars or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week. Thank you.
News Release 12/14/20
The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.
On November 14th 2020 at approximately 6:38 PM, Decatur Police responded to JB’s, located at 1301 N Calhoun in reference to a shooting. Officers arrived on scene and observed a subject lying on the floor inside of the business, unresponsive. This subject would later be identified as John Betscher.
John was the owner of this business and working alone when an unknown suspect pulled up to the drive-up window. This suspect fired multiple shots, striking John and then the suspect drove away from the business north on Calhoun street. Unfortunately, John would later succumb to his injuries from the gun shots.
There is minimal suspect information, and the Decatur Police Department is asking for the public’s help.
If you have any information regarding this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 423-TIPS. You do not have to give your name. Crime Stoppers will pay $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest on this homicide. In addition, there are donors who will contribute an additional $7,500 towards the reward for information that places this suspect in jail. Thank you.
