Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 8

www.thesouthem.com The Southern Iuinoisan Thursday, December 6, 2007 9 Kendrick plans to appeal termination, says rights violated Man pleads not guilty in charges connected to cousin's death of lying under oath at a Feb. 8 disciplinary hearing where three suspensions against him were reversed. Kendrick said he had one letter of reprimand when city officials claimed there were several. After the hearing concluded because of the multitude of evidence, the Fire and Police Merit Board reconvened Nov. 7 to rule against Kendrick and end his employment with the department.

Kendrick, a Johnston City native, worked with the department since May 1998. He claims the merit board was sworn in with the purpose of firing him when the last one wouldn't. The original board, which consisted of Jack Helfrich, Oral Potts and Tim Kirkpatrick, had reversed suspensions against Kendrick for charges by Police Chief Jerald Kobler, including communicating with the Williamson County State's Attorney's Office without permission and allegedly taking photos of Kobler's squad car parked outside Marion's VFW. Kendrick alleges that Mayor Richard Carter has a vendetta against him for arresting a family member and that much of the actions against him are to silence him from leaking damaging evidence about the department. "I've been unfairly treated available for comment on Wednesday but said in previous interviews that the cousins were involved in an altercation around 10:30 p.m.

Nov. 6. Mayor Marion Presley said he later learned that Ron Riddle was left lying on the floor of Kelly's Tavern for about 30 minutes, without medical or other attention. The mayor called that "negligence" on the part of establishment owners and one week after the death, Kelly's was shut down for a seven day stint. It was noted by police officers that a 911 call was later made after individuals became concerned for the victim's health.

It was not confirmed if the call was made from the tavern or a West Frankfort residence. West Frankfort Fire Department responded to the call and Ronald Riddle was transported to Franklin Hospital in Benton, where he was pronounced dead. tara.fasolthesouthem.com 351-5824 BY TARA FASOL THE SOUTHERN BENTON A West Frankfort man facing charges in connection with the death of his cousin was served with a bill of indictment and entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday afternoon. Assistant State's Attorney Tom Tedeschi said Mark A. Riddle, 35, has been charged with aggravated battery and is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 for a pre-trial conference at the Franklin County Courthouse in Benton. Mark Riddle was charged after a bar brawl with his cousin Ronald Riddle 39, also of West Frankfort. Ronald Riddle Jr. died after the altercation, although Franklin County Qoroner Steve Leek said autopsy results have not returned to allow for an official ruling on the cause of death.

West Frankfort Police Chief Mike Dinn was not BY CODELL RODRIGUEZ THE SOUTHERN JOHNSTON CITY Former Johnston City Police Officer Tony Kendrick, who was terminated by the Fire and Police Merit Board Nov. 7 for alleged perjury, said he plans to appeal the decision Kendrick and called the event a violation of his civil rights and due process. Kendrick's first hearing for the perjury charge happened on Sept. 13. He was accused Roye claimed he BY BETHANY KRAJELIS THE SOUTHERN CHESTER The man charged with the October slaying of a Steeleville woman told police that after he found Casey Morgan dead in her bedroom, he went to his truck, got his cell phone and called 911, according to court documents.

1 Investigators say phone records revealed that Michael Roye made two phone calls before calling 911. One call went unanswered and the other resulted in a brief conversation, according to an investigator's report that also included the opinion of a blood it I finding body; phone records differ fry MHMia mni immra 1 I ft I I 1 iTTV he went to Morgan's front door that morning and heard her baby crying. When he went in to check, Roye claims he found Morgan in her bedroom. He said he checked her pulse and tried to close the wound. Roye told police he went to get his phone from his truck, which was parked at Alma Lodge down the street, to call 911.

Police reported that Roye had blood on his clothing and self when they interviewed him at Morgan's home. A blood spatter expert was consulted by police to view Roye's clothing, according to court documents. The expert's initial observation appointment, Booker had known commissioners James Epplin and Bobby Kelly through her husband and political and social functions. County Clerk Kevin Kern said anyone who doubts Booker's ability to serve on the board would be foolish and added that she -has the unanimous support of the county's elected officials. "She's a very strong, determined lady," Kern said.

"Everyone has talked to BOOKER: Takes place of late husband on Perry County Board Southern Illinois University Carbondale called police after spatter expert. Roye, 29, of Du Quoin is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, accused of stabbing and cutting the throat of 26-year-old Morgan. A tape of the 911 call and a surveillance tape from Steeleville's village hall were subpoenaed. Police found Morgan's body Oct. 5 at her residence in the 300 block of West Main Street in Steeleville after receiving a 911 call at about 8 a.m.

Roye, who worked with Morgan at Spartan Light Metals in Sparta, was arrested that night. He remains in jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. According to court documents, Roye told police After talking with close friends and family, though, Booker decided the right thing to do would be to carry on with what her husband had started. James was proud of the way the county and communities had come to work together for progress, and of the potential of an amusement park in the county limits. No matter what other agenda items arise, Booker knows she will not be going it alone.

Even prior to her in Herrin by U.S. produce an ATM card. Hudson also suffered burns on his back, arms and hands when his car caught fire after it crashed through a fence. He remains in a Little Rock hospital. Broshow said Taylor is also accused of an Oct.

31 murder and a string of other robberies in the CODE: Attempt to FROM PAGE IB sooner than 30 days before an election. But commissioners did leave open the possibility of opening the 30-day window to 45 days. The irony of trying to drop a law he helped draft was not lost on Rayfield. "When I wrote the sign ordinance, it was a different world back then," he said with a chuckle. "We were trying to clean up the clutter." Susan Davenport, conductor toast by Johnston City since I've been here," Kendrick said.

Helfrich agrees and said at the hearing announcing Kendrick's termination that something about it just doesn't add up. "In my book, he got railroaded," Helfrich said at the meeting. "It just doesn't make sense." Kendrick, who is now working part-time with the Hurst Police Department, said all he wants to see is wrongs against him righted. "I just want my job back and I want justice done," Kendrick said. Carter and Kobler could not be reached for comment.

codell.rodriguezthesouthem.com 351-5804 was that the blood on Roye's clothing was "indicative of an impact spatter, which one can only get while in close proximity to the victim during the stabbing." The Randolph County state's attorney and public defender could not be reached Wednesday to comment on the status of the case. Roye, who pleaded not guilty in October, is scheduled to make a court appearance Dec. 21. line is found guilty, each count of first-degree murder carries a 20-to-60-year prison sentence with the possibility of a life sentence. bethany.krajelisthesouthem.com 351-5816 her and we're standing by her." Booker will serve until November when a special election will take place for someone to fill the remainder of James Booker's term.

As of right now, Booker said she would not consider running in that election but friends have told her to keep an open mind. adam.testathesouthem.com 351-5031 the Lymar High Rise apartment complex in Herrin, directly behind city hall on North 14th Street. Taylor was transported to the Williamson County Jail, where he awaits transfer to an Arkansas holding cell. john.homanthesouthem.com 351-5805 unsuccessful right to express themselves on private property, but commission member John Hunsaker wasn't buying that argument. "What about the rights of your neighbors?" Hunsaker asked.

Rayfield's request to have the sign ordinance abolished began last October when he let supporters erect a four-foot by eight-foot Ron Paul sign on a piece of city property near his own land on East Main Street between Midas and Sonic. Because the sign was on city land, he was asked to remove it and because of his law he has not been able to put it up since. Rayfield said he is just looking for an opportunity to support a candidate who he thinks isn't getting enough attention. "I just want to get that guy more out there," he said of Paul. But until theni he added, "the sign sits in the garage." blackwell.thomasthesouthem.coni 351-5823.

Comics Tzfcn For Yu Every I Day FROM PAGE IB years. Rednour described her as "one of our best employees, if not the best" and as a "fine person and great citizen." Many people were surprised when Bookerq accepted the board position, which she attributes to a perception of her not being very interested in politics. She said the reason she didn't like politics was "because it took Jim away from me and the boys." TAYLOR: Caught FROM PAGE IB and badly burned. Brent Broshow, a marshals' supervisor in Benton, said Taylor, who was caught on video by Wal-Mart, is believed to have robbed Hudson inside his vehicle and then shot him in the neck when he couldn't marshals after Arkansas murder Daniel Pinkham Franz Joseph Haydn 'THcm to flat, H6enea6etmeMe Gustav Hoist Shryock Auditorium -M Si Little Rock area. "We believe he is responsible for as many as 15 robberies," Broshow said.

"It is also believed he was targeting Hispanics." Broshow said a tip led authorities to both Mount Vernon and Herrin, where Taylor is said to have relatives. He was arrested at overturn city law It was for that reason that members of the commission roundly rejected the repeal. Planning Director Rob Keehn said the signs tend to age poorly and could become a litter problem if allowed to proliferate about town. Devin Johnson, a university student and Ron Paul supporter, questioned the constitutionality of a law that infringes on people's (or, $1.23 per foot) quar ytrd or, 78 per sq. foot) "qut yard (or, SS per aq.

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