Criminal Damage to Property (Over) H26-1800 2026-2566

Date/Time of Incident: 4/10/2026 @ 8:59 a.m.

Location of Incident: 700 Blk of W Main St

Date/Time of Arrest: 4/16/2026 @ 11:44 p.m.

Location of Arrest: 200 Blk of S Market St

Arrested: Chase Hensley (M) (30) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers located Mr. Hensley after an investigation for the above charge. Mr. Hensley was arrested, transported to HPD for processing, and was later transported to the PSB in Danville to await arraignment.

Restraint of Dogs by Owner or Keeper (6.08.070 city citation # 12391) H26-1927

Date/Time: 04/16/2026@7:21pm

Location: 100 N 6th Ave. (Hoopeston Little League Park)

Cited: Kadi Baker (F) (25) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD Officers responded to the above location for the report of an unrestrained dog in the area with no owner present. Ms. Baker, the owner, was found and later issued an NTA in Hoopeston City Court for the above city ordinance violation.

Aggravated Battery Public Way; Disorderly Conduct H26-1888

Date/Time of Incident: 4/14/2026 @ 8:57 p.m.

Location of Incident: 1 McFerren Way (Mcferren Park)

Date/Time of Arrest: 4/17/2026 @ 3:24 p.m.

Location of Arrest: 300 Blk of W. Main (Hoopeston Police Department)

Arrested: 16-year-old male juvenile of Hoopeston

Details: The juvenile arrived at HPD requesting to speak to officers regarding the incident that occurred previously dated. Upon further investigation he was placed under arrest for the above charges and later released to his guardians with a juvenile petition.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol; Driving When Lights Required; Endangering the Life of A Child H26-1887

Date/Time: 04/14/2026 @ 8:12p.m.

Location: S Dixie Highway/W Penn St

Arrested: Heather Wyss (F) (33) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers conducted a traffic stop at the above location. Ms. Wyss was arrested on the above violations. She was taken into custody, brought to HPD for processing, and was released with NTA’s for Vermilion County Court. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

The Vermilion County GOP has elected a new leadership team commited to strengthening the party, supporting canidates, & delivering results to the people of Vermilion County.  

The newly elected officers are:

Chairman: Matt Long

Vice Chairman: Eric Luttrell

Treasurer: Missy Quick

Secretary: Robyn Heffern

In addition, the following individuals have been elected to serve on the Executive Board:

Nate Byram

Steve Miller

Ryan Goodner

This team steps forward with a clear focus on unity, accountability, and growing grassroots involvement across the county. With strong leadership in place, the organization is focused on engaging voters, supporting Republican candidates at every level, and ensuring Vermilion County remains a strong voice for conservative values.

The Vermilion County Republican Party extends its sincere appreciation to the previous VCGOP members – Erika Ramsey, Darren Duncan, Jerry Hawker and Lon Henderson for their service, time and dedication to the party and the community.

“We are excited to move forward with a team that is committed to continuing to build unity, integrity, and the values that matter most to our community, “said Chairman Matt Long. “Together, we look forward to building on our successes and continuing to serve the voters of Vermilion County.”

The Vermilion County Republican Party encourages community members to get involved, stay informed, and participate in upcoming events and initiatives.

For more information, please follow the Vermilion County Republicans Facebook page, visit www.vermilionrepublicans.com or email vcgopchairman@gmail.com.

The Iroquois County Sheriffs Office has arrested and charged 22-year-old Jason L. Ruiz of Watseka, ll. with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in connection with the death of his one-month-old son, Jace.

On April 10, 2026, Watseka Fire and EMS were dispatched to 1631 N Blue Bell Bend Rd in rural Watseka in reference to a 3-week-old baby not breathing. The infant, later identified as Jace, was transported from the scene to Iroquois Memorial Hospital and later to Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, ll. Jace was pronounced deceased on 4/13/26.

Jason Ruiz was taken into custody in Chicago, ll. on 4/16/26, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force.

The investigation remains active. Out of respect for the ongoing legal proceedings and the victim's family, no additional information will be released at this time.

Fire Call

Time: 10:20 a.m.

Location: 426 E Honeywell Ave. (Centennial Manor)

Details: HFD responded to the above address for the report of a fire alarm. Upon arrival the scene was cleared with no fire and no injuries reported.

Fire Call

Time: 12:21 p.m.

Location: 300 Blk of N 3rd St

Details: HPD and HFD responded to the above location for a report of a fire alarm. Upon arrival no fire was located and the scene was cleared.

Fire Call

Time: 6:10 am

Location: 14000 blk of 4000 North Rd

Details: HFD was dispatched to the report of a tree on fire. Fire extinguished.

Fire Call

Time: 3:17 p.m.

Location: State Route 9/ N 1300 East Rd

Details: HFD was dispatched to the report of a fire in a ditch. The fire was extinguished and the scene was cleared.

Vermilion County Warrant (25CF77) H26-1879 2026-2486

Time: 4:11 p.m.

Location: 600 Blk of E McCracken Ave.

Arrested: Christopher Smith (M) (49)

Details: Known to have an active Vermilion County Warrant, HPD officers located Mr. Smith and placed him under arrest. He was transported to HPD where he was processed, then later transported by the VCSO to the PSB in Danville to await arraignment.

Assist Other

Date/ Time: 04/12/2026 @ 6:19 p.m.

Location: 20 N Wesley St. Henning, IL

Details: HFD was requested to assist at a structure fire then cleared the scene.

Fire Call

Time: 10:17pm

Location: 10000 blk of E 4000 North Rd

Details: HFD were dispatched to the above area for the report of a tree on fire. No injuries were reported and HFD later cleared the scene.

Domestic Battery , Resisting H26-1870 2026-2469

Time: 11:03 pm

Location: 200 blk of W Maple

Arrested: Iesha Hoskins (F) (30) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD Officers were dispatched to the above location for the report of a domestic disturbance. Ms. Hoskins was arrested and processed on the above charges, then later transported to the Danville Public Safety Building to await arraignment.

Arson H26-1782 2026-2419

Date/Time of Incident: 04-09-2026 @ 5:16 a.m.

Location of Incident: 422 E Seminary Ave.

Date/Time of Arrest: 04-12-2026 @ 9:38 a.m.

Location of Arrest: 700 Blk. of E. Lincoln St.

Arrested: Skylar Cannon (M) (34) of Hoopeston

Details: Following the investigation of a vacant residential structure fire on Seminary Ave., HPD officers located Mr. Cannon and arrested him on the above charge. He was taken to the PSB in Danville for processing and to await arraignment.

Restraint of Dog by Owner (City Ordinance 6.08.070) H26-1851

Time: 3:06 p.m.

Location: 400 Blk of W Elm St.

Cited: Juan Lugo (M) (49) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers responded to a call at the above location for an aggressive dog running loose. Officers located the owner of the dog and Mr. Lugo received a citation for the above ordinance violation and was released from the scene with an NTA for Hoopeston Municipal Court.

Fire Call

Time: 5:16 a.m.

Location: 400 Blk of E. Seminary Ave.

Details: HFD and HPD responded to the above location for a residence on fire. Wellington fire department and Rossville fire department assisted Hoopeston fire department with the residence fire. Upon arrival the residence fire was extinguished with no injuries reported. All units cleared the scene.

Contempt of Court (Violation of Probation #2025CM478) H26-1792 2026-2354

Time: 7:49 p.m.

Location: 800 Blk of W. Main St.

Arrested: David Baker (M) (44)

Details: HPD officers responded to the above address for a violation of probation. Upon arrival Mr. Baker was arrested and taken to HPD where he was processed then was later transported to the PSB to await arraignment.

Driving While License Suspended; No Valid Insurance H26-1758

Time: 8:59 p.m.

Location: 200 Blk of E Thompson Ave

Arrested: Jessica Cabrales (F) (47) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers conducted a traffic stop at the above location. Ms. Cabrales was found to be driving on the above violations. Ms. Cabrales was placed under arrest, transported to HPD and was processed. She was issued NTA’s for Vermilion County Court then released from HPD custody.

Trespassing (City Ordinance) H26-1740

Date/Time: 4/6/26 @ 9:55 pm

Location: 912 S Dixie Hwy (Casey’s General Store)

Cited: Bayleah Moore (F) (26) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD Officers were dispatched to the above business in regard to trespassing. Upon arrival Officers made contact with Ms. Moore, issued her a city citation for the above ordinance violation, and released her from the scene.

Champaign County Warrant (24CF1248) H26-1744 2026-2282

Time: 5:52a.m.

Location: 300 Blk of N 7th St

Arrested: Tyler White (M) (29) of Fithian

Details: HPD officers were dispatched to the above location. A computer check confirmed Mr. White had an active warrant out of Champaign County. He was taken into HPD custody where he was processed and was later transported to the PSB in Danville to await extradition.

Operating Vehicle with Expired Registration or Sticker Time: Location: Cited: Details: 4:19a.m. W Orange St/ 1300 East Rd Derrick Leppard (M)(42) of Milford H26-1713 HPD officers conducted a traffic stop at the above location. Mr. Leppard was found to be driving on the above violation. He was given an NTA for Vermilion County Court and was released from the scene.

Operating Vehicle When Registration Suspended for Noninsurance Time: Location: Cited: Details: 6:08 p.m. N Dixie Hwy / W McCracken Ave Caleb Smith (M) (20) of Indiana H26-1717 HPD officers conducted a traffic stop at the above location. Mr. Smith was issued an NTA in Vermilion County Court for the above traffic violation. Officers released him from the scene, and the vehicle was towed. 

Theft (Under); Drug Paraphernalia H26-1678

Time: 2:07p.m.

Location: 719 W Elm St. (Fast Lanes)

Arrested: Kathy Stancle (F) (45) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD responded to the above location for the report of theft. After an investigation, Ms. Stancle was located, arrested, and placed into HPD custody. During processing paraphernalia was found. Ms. Stancle was issued an NTA for Vermilion County Court then was released from HPD.

Retail Theft, Possession of Methamphetamines, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

H26-1657 2026-2160

Time: 2:45am

Location: 912 S Dixie Hwy, Casey’s

Arrested: Wayne Propes (M) (52) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers were dispatched to the report of retail theft that just occurred. After

a search of the area, Mr. Propes was located and arrested. A search found

methamphetamines and paraphernalia on his person. He was taken to HPD to be

processed and later transported to the PSB to await arraignment.

Fire Alarm

Time: 2:10 p.m.

Location: 824 E. Wyman Ave. (Wyman Country Manor)

Details: HFD responded to the above location for a fire alarm going off in the building. No fire was located and the scene was cleared.

Lighting Requirements on Bicycle (City Ordinance 10.4.020) H26-1654

Date/Time: 4/1/2026 @ 9:51 p.m.

Location: E. Main St. / Market St.

Cited: Austin Johnston (M) (31) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers stopped an individual riding a bicycle. Mr. Johnston was issued a citation for the above violation. He was released from the scene with a NTA for the Hoopeston Municipal Court.

Retail Theft, Possession of Methamphetamines, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

H26-1657 2026-2160

Time: 2:45am

Location: 912 S Dixie Hwy, Casey’s

Arrested: Wayne Propes (M) (52) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers were dispatched to the report of retail theft that just occurred. After

a search of the area, Mr. Propes was located and arrested. A search found

methamphetamines and paraphernalia on his person. He was taken to HPD to be

processed and later transported to the PSB to await arraignment.

Fire Alarm

Time: 2:10 p.m.

Location: 824 E. Wyman Ave. (Wyman Country Manor)

Details: HFD responded to the above location for a fire alarm going off in the building. No fire was located and the scene was cleared.

Lighting Requirements on Bicycle (City Ordinance 10.4.020) H26-1654

Date/Time: 4/1/2026 @ 9:51 p.m.

Location: E. Main St. / Market St.

Cited: Austin Johnston (M) (31) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers stopped an individual riding a bicycle. Mr. Johnston was issued a citation for the above violation. He was released from the scene with a NTA for the Hoopeston Municipal Court.