Police searching for man who posed as employee

by Mike Gunderson
Police reporter

Champaign police are looking for a man who swindled $560 from Wal-Mart customers Tuesday evening.

According to a police report, the offender got the money by telling victims that he worked at the store at 913 W. Marketview Drive, Champaign. He said there was a special sale on television sets. The man was wearing a Wal-Mart hat, and the customers paid him for the televisions.

After the victims gave him their money, the offender left the area, the report stated. It was later learned that the offender did not work at the store.

Police have seized a surveillance tape from Wal-Mart, the report said.

The report describes the offender as a white man in his 50s, about 5 feet 11 inches tall and about 235 pounds. The man has brown hair and went by "Bob W." and "BW."

In other police news:

€#149; A Clinton, Ill., couple was arrested after attempting to get a prescription meant for someone else.

According to a Champaign police report, at about 2:30 p.m., the suspects tried to pick up a prescription for Vicodin from the Osco Pharmacy in Market Place Mall, 2000 N. Neil St., Champaign.

Arrested in connection with the incident was Sheila Campbell, 48, and Terrance Campbell, 49, both of Clinton, Ill. Both were taken to the Champaign County Sheriff's Office.

€#149; An Urbana woman was arrested early Tuesday morning after police discovered she had suspected crack pipes with her.

According to a Champaign police report, at about 2:15 a.m., the suspect's vehicle was seen driving in what is known as a high-drug traffic area.

Police stopped the suspect near the intersection of Fourth Street and Beardsley Avenue after she broke a traffic law, the report stated.

The driver gave police consent to search her car, and police found a crack pipe in the map pocket of her passenger door, the report said.

The driver was arrested and taken to the Champaign County Sheriff's Office.

Police also seized a small bag containing a gold watch and three earrings along with the two crack pipes.

Arrested in connection with the incident was Nancy Scott, 27, of 604 W. Main St., Urbana.

€#149; Urbana police are looking for four suspects who are believed to have burglarized an Urbana motel Monday.

According to an Urbana police report, the motel found several items missing after the four offenders checked out of the Europe Inn, 520 W. Cunningham Ave., Urbana.

The report stated that the motel is missing five pillows, four blankets, one bedspread, one rollaway bed, one microwave and one television set.

The report describes the offenders as two 27-year-old females, one 37-year-old male and one 38-year-old male.

€#149; A Champaign man returned to his car Tuesday morning to find his CD player stolen, resulting in nearly $1,500 in damage.

According to a Champaign police report, the victim had parked his maroon 1998 Hyundai in the 300 block of South Prairie Street, Champaign, at about 8 p.m. When he returned the next morning, he found his car's rear vent window smashed.

The report stated that a large, decorative stone was found lying next to the broken window. There were pry marks where the CD player had been taken from the radio console and damage to the dashboard and other electronics.

Heavy rain prevented the officer from finding any usable fingerprints on the car. The report stated rain was not the only obstacle, however, as the plastic and vinyl dashboard and radio console did not lend themselves to providing fingerprints.

The victim's Pioneer CD player was estimated at $550. Damage to the dashboard was estimated at $500. The driver's side rear vent window will cost about $200 to replace, as will a dent in the driver's side rear panel.

Police have no suspects in connection with the incident.

€#149; A Champaign man was arrested late Tuesday night after resisting arrest.

According to a Champaign police report, an officer saw the suspect on the 200 block of West University Avenue at about 11:55 p.m.

The report stated that the officer checked the man's background for any arrest warrants, and he found an outstanding city warrant against the suspect.

When the officer proceeded to arrest the man, he resisted. The suspect was then taken to the Champaign County Sheriff's Office.

Arrested in connection with the incident was Russell Huff, 38. Huff's last known address was 2606 Dale Drive, Champaign.