Peoria County State's Attorney

Peoria County State's Attorney This is the official page for the Peoria County State’s Attorney's Office. Our social media sites are not monitored 24/7.

DIGITAL POLICY:

Updated and Posted December 12, 2023
Many Peoria County offices have official social media accounts, and all fall under this general Peoria County policy unless otherwise stated. Peoria County endeavors to post this policy on all accounts where applicable. However, for social media platforms where it is difficult to post a full policy, Peoria County will link to this page, which s

erves as the posting. Please call or text 911 in an emergency. The intent of official Peoria County social media accounts is to serve as a communications tool between Peoria County departments and the public. Peoria County communications department staff and/or specific department personnel associated with the social media account are the sole administrators of our sites. This social media policy includes Terms of Use, Prohibited Content, and Disclaimers. Terms of Use
As a communications tool, Peoria County shall utilize its various social media accounts to raise awareness among Peoria County and neighboring residents and visitors, community partners, and interested fans and followers of the County's offices. These sites may include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Twitter/X. Social media sites grant Peoria County an additional opportunity to share messages with the public. The public is encouraged to share comments, ideas, and concerns. Peoria County's social media sites shall comply with all applicable County of Peoria policies and procedures. Note that information, including personally identifiable information, that public members voluntarily submit to or publish on a Peoria County page of a third-party site may be treated as public information. Peoria County reserves the right to edit or delete its own content for want of clarity, addition of information, correction of typographical fault, correction of scrivener’s error, or other relative circumstances. Peoria County Digital Policy – updated 12-12-2023
Peoria County staff shall be the sole determining party when it comes to the ex*****on of this policy. This policy is not intended to supersede the policies of third-party hosts, however, but is intended to supplement the platforms’ expectations. Prohibited Content
The intended purpose of Peoria County's social media sites is to serve as one of multiple vehicles of communication between Peoria County and the public. Prohibited information, posts, tagged content, messages, photos, videos, graphics, and comments shall not be allowed and may be removed from the site. Subsequent prohibited posts by an individual will lead to that individual being blocked from the site. Such content includes the following:
1. Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates illegal discrimination of protected status under the law.
2. Obscene content or links to obscene content
3. Violent content or links to violent content or information that may compromise the safety and security of the public or public systems
4. Solicitations of funds, commercial promotions, or advertising
5. Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party (such as copyrighted materials, art, or other intellectual property)
6. Personal information including but not limited to e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, mailing addresses, medical information, identification numbers, passwords, or other personally identifiable information (PII)
7. Content containing links to malware, viruses, and/or malicious content that affects the normal functioning of a computer system, server, or browser
8. Defaming content or comments that are patently false assertions of facts
Compliance
Peoria County's social media sites are subject to the Local Records Retention Act. Social media content is considered Administrative Files under the County’s records retention schedule and has a 1-year retention policy. Disclaimer
Peoria County is not responsible or liable for any user materials or content posted in violation of this policy. Peoria County shall make reasonable efforts to remove said materials during
Peoria County Digital Policy – updated 12-12-2023
business hours but disclaims liability if circumstances exist that prevent or hinder efforts to remove said materials, including if the amount of discussion becomes an undue burden to monitor or the timeliness of the comments are no longer relevant. Peoria County does not endorse nor otherwise support or sponsor any advertising that may be posted by a social media platform on our pages. Peoria County following another page also does not necessitate support nor endorsement. The views expressed by members of the public on official pages maintained by Peoria County on third-party social media websites and applications do not reflect the official views of the Peoria County government nor does Peoria County guarantee the accuracy of such information posted by members of the public on those websites. Social media platforms are privately operated, and the terms and conditions of individual platforms apply as governed by the platform itself. Peoria County does not guarantee the reliability or accuracy of any third‐party links. Peoria County reserves the right to remove, at its discretion, any comment or conversation that is prohibited by this Digital Policy.

🐾 Kiwi is stopping by packet pickup this morning on her morning walk!She says she’s just here for morale support because...
06/05/2026

🐾 Kiwi is stopping by packet pickup this morning on her morning walk!

She says she’s just here for morale support because, in her words, “I am absolutely not a runner… unless it involves snacks.”

Good luck to everyone running the Steamboat Classic tomorrow! 💙

PEORIA MAN CHARGED AND DETAINED FOR IMPERSONATING A SHERIFF'S DEPUTYJune 4, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, Dennis Walker, 43,...
06/04/2026

PEORIA MAN CHARGED AND DETAINED FOR IMPERSONATING A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY

June 4, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, Dennis Walker, 43, who formerly went by the name Josh Coats, was charged with False Personation of a Peace Officer in connection with impersonating a Peoria County Sheriff’s Deputy. During Walker’s detention hearing, the State’s request for detention was granted, and he will remain in custody until trial.

On May 27, 2026, Peoria County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report that an individual had been stopped in the 5800 block of Plank Road by a man claiming to be a sheriff’s deputy. The victim reported that the man, later identified as Walker, was driving an unmarked Ford Explorer with two red and blue lights mounted on the dashboard. The defendant was dressed in black, wearing a vest similar to those worn by deputies, with a silver star but no nameplate or body camera. The victim also believed the individual was armed with a firearm.

The defendant told the victim that his driver's license was suspended, then cut it in half and tried to give him a handwritten citation. The victim knew his license was still valid and began to argue with the defendant, who then tore up the citation and fled the scene.

On June 2, the defendant was taken into custody, and a search warrant was executed at his home. Several uniforms, multiple badges, tactical gear, and a rifle were found inside.

The defendant has also been charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.

This investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office at 309-697-8515.
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🎉 Join us in celebrating our five newest Problem-Solving Court graduates!Each overcame their own challenges, completed t...
06/03/2026

🎉 Join us in celebrating our five newest Problem-Solving Court graduates!

Each overcame their own challenges, completed the program, and is leaving a changed person.

The Problem-Solving Courts in Peoria County provide treatment, support, and accountability to help participants build healthier, law-abiding lives. These courts are not easy, because they are designed to work! Congratulations graduates.

*Not all graduates are pictured.

📊 Weekly Criminal Justice Snapshot: May 27 to June 2, 2026A total of 162 criminal charges were filed, including felonies...
06/03/2026

📊 Weekly Criminal Justice Snapshot: May 27 to June 2, 2026

A total of 162 criminal charges were filed, including felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile delinquency, and misdemeanor traffic offenses.

Highlights:
78% of detention petitions granted, 14 battery offenses, including 6 for domestic battery, 13 weapons offenses, and 12 DUI offenses.
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DEFENDANT WHO REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN TRIAL CONVICTEDJune 2, 2026, Peoria, IL – A Peoria County Jury found Shiloe L Be...
06/02/2026

DEFENDANT WHO REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN TRIAL CONVICTED

June 2, 2026, Peoria, IL – A Peoria County Jury found Shiloe L Beasley, 31, guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Attempted Armed Robbery, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon after a trial that proceeded despite his refusal to participate. Beasley chose to represent himself and was repeatedly advised by the court that the proceedings could continue in his absence. Despite these warnings, Beasley chose not to attend or participate in the trial, which was conducted before a jury as required by law.

During the two-day trial, the victim testified that he was working for Frito-Lay and making a delivery to the Dollar General on December 18, 2023, around noon, when a man came in brandishing a firearm and demanded money from the manager. As the manager moved toward the office, the victim raised his hands and told the gunman he did not work for the store. The gunman then shot him before fleeing the scene. The victim suffered a deep graze wound to his arm.

The store manager's testimony corroborated the victim's account of the robbery and shooting. He told the jury that he immediately recognized Beasley as the gunman because he had interacted with him several times before. Surveillance footage from the store's security cameras captured the incident and was shown to the jury.
Shortly after the incident, officers located Beasley in the area. Officers recovered two fired bullets from the store and performed a gunshot residue test on Beasley. One month later, a local resident reported finding a gun in the area, in some mud.

Fi****ms identification experts testified that the fired bullets found at the scene were fired from that gun, and the gunshot residue test on Beasley was positive.

Sentencing for the case is set for July 22, 2026.
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PEORIA MAN CHARGED, DETAINED IN GLEN OAK PARK MEMORIAL DAY SHOOTINGMay 29, 2026, Peoria, IL – On Wednesday, Harlem C. Po...
05/29/2026

PEORIA MAN CHARGED, DETAINED IN GLEN OAK PARK MEMORIAL DAY SHOOTING

May 29, 2026, Peoria, IL – On Wednesday, Harlem C. Porter, 20, was charged with Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Fraudulent Identification Card in connection with a shooting that happened in Glen Oak Park on Memorial Day. During Porter’s detention hearing today, the State’s request for detention was granted, meaning he will remain in custody until trial.

On May 25, 2026, around 6 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired at Glen Oak Park. Officers pursued an SUV at the scene that had crashed, and the occupants fled. The SUV was registered to Porter, and officers found a handgun inside it.

Witnesses reported a suspect, later identified as Porter, hiding in a vehicle at a nearby gas station. When Porter was taken into custody, an Indiana driver’s license was found on him with his picture and another person’s name.

When interviewed by police, Porter admitted to having the handgun and firing it multiple times, but claimed someone shot at him first, and he acted in self-defense. He also admitted the ID found was his fake ID.

At the scene, officers located 31 shell casings and multiple vehicles struck by bullets. Preliminary testing indicated that 19 of those shell casings were fired from Porter’s handgun.

This investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.
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PEORIA MAN CHARGED IN TWO SEPARATE SHOOTINGSMay 28, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, Omarvelous M. Blakes, 21, was charged with...
05/28/2026

PEORIA MAN CHARGED IN TWO SEPARATE SHOOTINGS

May 28, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, Omarvelous M. Blakes, 21, was charged with two counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, and Armed Robbery in connection with two separate shootings that occurred earlier this month in Peoria. During his detention hearing, the court granted the State’s request for detention, meaning Blakes will remain in custody until trial.

On May 3, 2026, around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 2800 block of W. Freemont Street in South Peoria. When they arrived, officers found a 19-year-old woman with a graze wound to her leg. She later identified Blakes in a photo lineup as the shooter.

On May 8, around 10 p.m., officers responded to a report of a person shot in the 800 block of Thrush Avenue in Central Peoria. When they arrived, they found a 17-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his face.

A witness told officers that before the shooting, she was sitting in her vehicle with the victim when a male, later identified as Blakes, got into the vehicle. According to the witness, the victim had been communicating with Blakes and had arranged to meet him. Once inside the vehicle, Blakes tried to steal a firearm from the victim before shooting him. Blakes fled the scene with the firearm.

Blakes was arrested on May 27.

This investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.
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JURY FINDS MAN GUILTY IN CITYSCAPE APARTMENT COMPLEX SHOOTINGMay 28, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, a Peoria County Jury foun...
05/28/2026

JURY FINDS MAN GUILTY IN CITYSCAPE APARTMENT COMPLEX SHOOTING

May 28, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, a Peoria County Jury found John Earl Nichols, 30, guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon for a shooting at the Cityscape Apartment Complex in August 2025 that injured an adult male.

On August 16, 2025, around 8:45 p.m., police responded to reports of a person shot in the 600 block of Romeo B. Garrett Avenue. When they arrived, officers found a 39-year-old man lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his right leg. In an initial statement to police, the victim reported that an unknown male had attempted to take his watch before shooting him.

During the three-day trial, a former resident of the apartment complex testified that she witnessed the shooting. In court, she identified Nichols as the man who shot the victim and stated that she saw him flee the scene while pushing a man in a wheelchair.

Prosecutors also presented surveillance footage from the apartment complex that corroborated her testimony. The video shows Nichols pushing the victim to the ground, shooting him, and then fleeing the scene while pushing a man in a wheelchair. The man in the wheelchair did not cooperate with the investigation.

Sentencing for the case is set for July 15.
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PEORIA TEEN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONMay 26, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, Dion G. Smith, 18, was charg...
05/26/2026

PEORIA TEEN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPON

May 26, 2026, Peoria, IL – Today, Dion G. Smith, 18, was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun and Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon after being found in possession of two handguns, one of which was a fully automatic weapon. During Smith’s detention hearing, the court denied the State’s request for detention, citing his age and minimal criminal history. Smith was released with conditions, including GPS electronic monitoring, not to possess any fi****ms or dangerous weapons, and home confinement.

On May 22, 2026, around 6 p.m., officers saw a vehicle illegally parked and surrounded by several people in the 2200 block of S. Idaho, near Trewyn Park, and initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, officers noticed improperly packaged cannabis and searched the vehicle.

During the search, they found two loaded handguns stacked directly on top of each other beneath the driver’s seat, in a position accessible to the backseat passenger. One of the guns was equipped with an auto sear, or “switch,” that converts it to a fully automatic weapon.

Smith was identified as the backseat passenger and was seen with a gun when he got into the car.

Smith initially denied knowledge of either gun. However, when confronted with fingerprint testing, he stated that he had found one of the guns. Smith also said the gun with the switch might have his fingerprints because he saw it on the seat, pushed it to the floor, and then kicked it under the driver’s seat.

This investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.
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Today, we remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. We honor their sacrifice and rememb...
05/25/2026

Today, we remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. We honor their sacrifice and remember them with gratitude.
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Address

324 Main Street, Room 111
Peoria, IL
61602

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13096726900

Website

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