A 35-year-old Galesburg man who was wanted by police in connection to two separate vehicle thefts was charged yesterday afternoon with forgery. Galesburg Police on Wednesday afternoon responded to Old National bank on East Main Street in Galesburg when the man entered the bank and attempted to cash a $900 check. The check was written on a closed account. The man told officers he was given the check by the account owner, a woman in her 40s, for doing yard work on Chambers Street. Police discovered the closed account once belonged to an 83-year-old woman from Abingdon who is now a resident at Marigold. Officers met with the woman, as well as her daughter, and they told police they never gave anyone permission to do yard work, and the daughter hadn't been to Galesburg in months. The 35-year-old man was transported to the Knox County Jail and charged with Forgery. The male suspect was also wanted in connection to a stolen skid steer on January 3rd and a stolen bicycle on January 11th.
Galesburg Police on Wednesday night responded to the 200 block of Sumner Street in reference to a stolen bicycle. A 26-year-old man met with police and said he listed his mother's bike on Facebook marketplace for her. A 35-year-old man responded to the listing, arrived at the residence, and then asked if he could test drive the bike to which the seller agreed. The 35-year-old man then took off with the bike but left behind an electric bicycle at the seller's residence. The seller attempted to text the male suspect numerous times with no response. The male suspect was added to the pending arrest list and is facing a theft charge. The man is the same suspect who last Tuesday, January 3rd, stole a skid steer from a residence and attempted to sell it to another man late at night. He's facing Felony Possession of Stolen Property and Theft by Deception charges in that incident.
Galesburg Police on Tuesday last week responded to the 700 block of West Third Street for a burglary. A 52-year-old man met with officers and said a skid steer that was parked on the property was stolen. The man had trail cameras installed, but the suspect removed the SD cards. Police checked around for other security cameras and were able to view a video of someone driving the skid steer off the property and onto a trailer. Police located the registered owner of the truck and trailer who said a 35-year-old man sold him the skid steer for $1,000. Officers recovered the skid steer and the male suspect was added to the pending arrest list for Felony Possession of Stolen Property and Theft by Deception. On Saturday morning, GPD responded to a burglary report in the 200 block of North Academy. A 53-year-old woman reported three bicycles: two Trek and a Schwinn were stolen from her garage. One of the Trek bikes was purchased a week ago and is valued at $750. The investigation is ongoing.
Last Wednesday, (January 4th) Galesburg Police responded to the 1700 block of Jefferson Street and met with a 66-year-old man who discovered his 2015 Chevy pick-up was rummaged through. The man's security footage only showed a subject running away from the area during the time of the incident. GPD also last Wednesday responded to the 2000 block of North Broad after a man and woman reported someone rummaged through and took the man's wallet. Someone attempted to use the man's debit card in Woodhull and at the Shell station in Galesburg. The wallet was recovered down the street by the victims. Then last Wednesday, GPD responded to the 2000 block of Lincoln Park Drive. A man reported his employer-owned SUV was rummaged through, but nothing was taken. A woman on Lincoln Park Drive reported multiple vehicles were rummaged through in her driveway, and all the doors were left cracked open. Police then responded to the 1500 block of North Academy after a man and woman reported s
Galesburg Police on Friday afternoon responded to the 400 block of Soangetaha Road for a report of a battery. Police arrived to find a broken apartment door pushed-in in the wrong direction and could overhear a female say "you tried to stab me in the back." Officers entered and made contact with a 31-year-old female victim who directed officers to a back bedroom where they made contact with a 40-year-old Galesburg man laying on a bed. The woman told police she became angry when the man took her car without permission. The man pushed the woman up against the wall, punched her in the back of the head, broke the front door, and then held her at knife-point. The woman had some small cuts on her neck and back and a mark on her stomach. The man had a knife sheath attached to his pants. The man was taken to the Knox County Jail and charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery.