During the early morning hours of Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, the Street Crimes Task Force, with assistance from Champaign Police and the Champaign Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), served a search warrant in the 1200 block of West Bradley Avenue leading to the arrest of four individuals. Several firearms and narcotics were seized during the arrest, and all four individuals are believed to be involved in recent gun violence.
A 15-year-old Urbana male connected to a Feb. 3 shooting in the 1200 block of West Beardsley Avenue and a Feb. 16 shooting in the 1200 block of Northwood Drive was arrested. Also arrested, a 16-year-old Champaign male on a Warrant of Apprehension, as well as his involvement in an Armed Robbery and Aggravated Discharge of a Weapon from a Feb. 9 incident in Urbana. The juveniles have been transported to the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center, where they are awaiting court proceedings.
Additionally, two adults were among those arrested.
Marcus J Batts (pictured left), a 20-year-old Urbana male currently on parole, was arrested for Armed Violence, Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Residential Burglary in which a firearm was stolen and recovered during today’s search warrant. He is currently at the Champaign County Jail awaiting court proceedings.
Donnie Caldwell (pictured left), a 21-year-old Champaign male currently on parole, was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant for Aggravated Battery with a Firearm stemming from a Nov. 18, 2018 N. Hickory Street shooting, a Department of Corrections Warrant, Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon, Armed Violence and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He is currently at the Champaign County Jail awaiting court proceedings.
The investigations into recent shootings remain ongoing. Future updates may be provided as they become available.
Anyone who may have information related to recent shootings should contact police at 217-351-4545. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately with police. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.
Champaign Police reminds citizens that information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives your information, completes a tips information form, and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.