Woman attacked in her O'Fallon home

O'Fallon, MO

December 5, 2012

On 12/05/12, at approximately 12:41 am, the O’Fallon Police Department received a call from a subject requesting to check the well being of his girlfriend. Officers responded to the 1000 block of Southernside Ln to check her status.

The victim was found in her residence, where she had been bound, gagged and sexually assaulted. Upon the arrival of the officers they interrupted the assault and the suspect then fled through the sliding glass door and jumped from the second floor balcony. An intensive search of the area revealed the suspect where he was taken into custody.

The St Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on James M Helderle, a 21 year old St Charles male, for Robbery 1st Degree, Burglary 1st Degree, Forcible Sodomy-Deviate Sexual Intercourse by Forcible Compulsion, Felonious Restraint, and Armed Criminal Action, with a $500,000 dollar bond. 

From the O'Fallon, MO Police Department

Senator Rupp visits Heritage Elementary

Missouri State Senator Scott Rupp spoke to students at Heritage Intermediate on Nov. 30 about the important functions of state government. 

The Senator divided the 172 fourth graders into two groups, one representing the Missouri Senate and the other the Missouri House of Representatives. Senator Rupp asked the students for ideas that they thought would make a good law. Students responded with items that included a law mandating ice cream at school, not having to make up snow days and one that would make the school day shorter. Additionally, a suggestion was made that a mandatory six-hour recess would make a great law, and quite a few students agreed. 

One of those in agreement was 10-year old Abi Jessen, who, when recognized by the President of the Senate, said “Mr. President, we should have six hours of recess because it would give us more energy to learn.” 

Another student and member of the Senate, Olivia Harmann, argued against the bill saying “I think it’s a bad idea to have a six-hour recess because we wouldn’t be spending that time learning.” 

The bill ultimately passed a voice vote in both the House and Senate, but Governor (and fourth grade teacher) Brandis Genebacher quickly vetoed the legislation. “We have too much important learning to do.” The veto was overridden in the Senate, but lost by one vote in the House, so there would be no change in recess on this day. 

“This is a fun exercise that shows students what we actually do in the Capitol,” said Senator Rupp. “They learn how we make laws, why we make them, and how difficult the process can be sometimes. But in the end they have a much better idea of how government works on a daily basis. This is one of the most fun things I get to do as a Senator.” 

From the Wentzville School District

Lake Saint Louis Police Department Crime Log

Following is the Lake Saint Louis Police Department Crime Log of reported incidents for the period of November 21, 2012 through November 27, 2012:

 

 11/21/12

 

A one-vehicle accident occurred on I-64 east of Prospect. There were no injuries.

 

A 58-year-old female was arrested for shoplifting at Walmart.

 

A two-vehicle accident occurred on I-64 near Peruque Creek Bridge. There were no injuries.

 

Summonses were issued to a 17-year-old male and a 20-year-old male for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop on Veterans Memorial Parkway.

 

 11/22/12

A 24-year-old female driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated on Highway N near Glen Brook Manor Drive. The driver's blood alcohol content was later measured at .217%.

A 44-year-old female was arrested for DWI on Chase Court at Lake Saint Louis Boulevard.

A 30-year-old female was arrested for driving while intoxicated (prior offender) at Hawk Ridge Trail.

 

A 30-year-old male was arrested for DWI on Robert Raymond Drive.

 

Police responded to Bent Twig Drive regarding a dumpster fire on Cedar Circle Drive. Not suspicious in nature.

 

Police responded to an accident/leaving the scene which occurred in front of the 200 bock of Woodlake Court.

 

A 38-year-old female was arrested for DWI on Woodlake Court.

 

An officer was dispatched to the 1400 block of Little Piney Drive regarding a stealing report.

 

An unoccupied vehicle was parked partially in the street on Lake Saint Louis Boulevard. The vehicle was towed due to being a traffic hazard.

 

11/23/12

 

An officer responded to Briarwood Court for a report of an attempted theft and property damage. It was reported that unknown person(s)  attempted to cut down and steal an eight foot tall Alberta spruce tree valued at $400.

A 26-year-old male was arrested as a fugitive on westbound I-64 west of Prospect Road.

After transporting an 18-year-old white male to the Lake Saint Louis Police Department for questioning, an officer discovered contraband inside his right pants pocket. The subject was released on summons.

11/24/12

A mailbox was damaged on Huntwood Terrace.

A 35-year-old female driver was cited for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles on Sommers Road at Highway N.

A 21-year-old male was arrested for shoplifting and for active arrest warrants for a drug offense and a 24-year-old female was also charged with shoplifting on Ronald Reagan Drive.

A 21-year-old female was arrested for active warrants at Hawk Ridge Trail.

 

11/25/12

 

An abandoned vehicle was towed from eastbound Interstate 70 east of Highway A.

 

An officer investigated a motor vehicle crash on westbound I-64 near Lake Saint Louis Boulevard involving two vehicles. There were no reports of injury and both vehicles were driven from the scene.

 

An officer responded to a parking lot on Fountain Grass Drive for a report of a motor vehicle crash where a vehicle had left the scene. The damaged vehicle was driven from the scene.

 

An officer investigated a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles on South Henke Road at the intersection of Technology Drive. There were no reports of injury and both vehicles were driven from the scene.

 

11/27/12

 

A four vehicle accident occurred on I-64 where the first vehicle struck the second vehicle and caused a chain reaction where two other vehicles were struck. No injuries to any party. 

 

A 37-year-old female was arrested for active warrants on Civic Center Drive.

 

A credit card was reported stolen from a residence on Marquette Drive.

 

A two-vehicle accident occurred on Hawk Ridge Trail near Ronald Reagan Drive. There were no injuries.

 

A 23-year-old male was arrested on an active warrant. Chesterfield PD.

 

A two-vehicle accident occurred at Lake Saint Louis Boulevard and Technology Drive. There were no injuries.

 

An auto accident with injuries occurred at Lake Saint Louis Boulevard and Bent Oak Drive. One subject was transported to the hospital.

 

An officer responded to Nantua Court for a report of an animal bite.

 

A set of keys was found in the 3400 block of Technology Drive.

 

From the Lake Saint Louis Police Department

Old-fashioned holiday stroll

Join the festivities and see millions of lights, fireworks over the lake (7:25 p.m.) and delightful holiday scenes on this one-night walking tour of the Celebration of Lights in Fort Zumwalt Park. 

The “Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll” will be held from 6 – 9 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11. The cost is $2 for ages 3 and older, and free for younger children. 

• Visit Santa, and let the kids make a holiday craft; remember to bring your camera!
• Enjoy the sweet sound of holiday caroling and purchase festival food and beverages in the park.
• No vehicles, pets, bikes or skateboards will be allowed in the park on this special night.
• Step into the St. Charles Model Railroad Club to see the elaborate display of working model trains and miniature city and country landscapes. www.stcharlesrailroadclub.com
• Warm up in the historic Heald Home, where vendors will sell holiday crafts, décor, and unique gifts.

Watch for signs to free parking and shuttle service from the First Baptist Church, 8570 Veterans Memorial Parkway (63366) and O’Fallon Christian Church, 9380 Veterans Memorial Parkway (63366).

For more information, contact the Office of Tourism and Festivals at 636-379-5614. Or, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/COL.

From the City of O'Fallon, Missouri 

Liquor store robbed, employee injured

St. Peters, Missouri

December 3, 2012

The St. Peters Police Department is searching for a black female suspect who robbed HR Liquor Mini Market, located on the 2900 block of North St. Peters Parkway, on Saturday December 1^st at approximately 8:55 PM.

The female suspect was described as:

 

Black Female

5’5” – 5’7”

Medium Build

 

The unknown female suspect entered the store at approximately 8:55 PM wearing a black jacket with a hood (possibly a Carhartt type jacket), blue jeans and black ski mask.  The female was also carrying a black semi-automatic gun.  The unknown female suspect walked behind the main counter and demanded money.  The store employee did not immediately cooperate with the suspect, possibly due to some language barriers and was then struck in the face with the gun.  

After the suspect was unsuccessful in getting money from the cash register, she then attempted to take the store employee's purse, at which time the victim grabbed the purse back.  The store employee then used her cell phone and called 9-1-1.  The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction. During the robbery, there was an unidentified black male standing outside the door of the business and is believed to also be involved.  

The store employee did not sustain any life threatening injuries.

See the above surveillance photo of the female suspect.  If anyone has any information on the identity of the female suspect or any possible accomplices, they are asked to contact Detective Paul Barish at 636-278-2244 ext. 3531 or 636-278-2222.

From the St. Peters Police Department

Steel Magnolias on stage in O’Fallon

Don’t miss the O’FallonTheatreWorks’ (OTW) production of the comedy-drama, Steel Magnolias, on the stage at O’Fallon’s Municipal Centre (City Hall), 100 North Main Street, O’Fallon Missouri 63366. Performances will be held November 30 – December 2, and December 7-9. The curtain goes up at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Written by Robert Harling, the action takes place in a home beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done by Truvy, who dispenses down-home observations along with shampoos and permanents to her clients (“When it comes to pain and suffering, she’s right up there with Elizabeth Taylor;”): Ouiser, the town’s rich curmudgeon (“The only reason people are nice to me is I have more money than God;”); Miss Clairee (“If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me;”) and M’Lynn, a social leader whose daughter, Shelby, the prettiest girl in town, is getting married. Steel Magnolias is laced with repartee delivered by women whose inner strength, deep bond for one another, and willingness to poke fun makes them marvelous company in good times and bad.

Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 636-474-2732 or by coming to the Renaud Spirit Center, 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon (63368). Tickets are $10 for general admission (ages 18-64), $8 for students (ages 6-17) and seniors (age 65 and up), and free for ages 5 and under. For an additional $2 each, tickets can be purchased at the box office, which opens one hour before the start of each show.

Directions to the performance: On I-70 in O’Fallon, MO., take Exit 217 at Highways K/M (Main Street). Drive north on Main Street about one-half mile, cross the railroad tracks and make an immediate right into the Municipal Centre parking lot. Come to the east entrance (police lobby).

Holocaust survivor shares story with students

On Thursday, November 29th, Holocaust survivor Ben Fainer shared his moving story with eighth grade students from Wentzville Middle School. In communication arts class these students are reading "Night" by Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, based upon his story of survival while in the concentration camps. WMS teachers Marcus Hirsch and Scott Kiehl arranged for Mr Fainer to visit with the students and share his own story.

"My message is my experience," said Mr. Fainer with a shrug. "I had the greatest mother in the world, and she was taken away from me when I was 9 1/2 years old by the Nazis, and she perished in Auschwitz. So I remind these children that they should listen to their mother."

Born Bendet Fajner in Poland in 1930, Mr. Fainer was separated from his mother and his siblings and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp by the Nazis in 1939. He still bears the tattoo ID number 178873 on his left forearm. "To survive the camps you had to be able to walk and to work in the factory. If you couldn't do either, you would soon be dead."

After more than six years spent in several different camps, he was finally liberated by the U.S.Army's 26th Infantry Division in April of 1945. After the war, he lived in Ireland and Canada before settling in St. Louis. "The children in America, what they have is greater than any other children anywhere in the world. They have the world on a string."

"I have done a lot of research on the Holocaust, but this was the first time I had heard a survivor speak," said eighth grader Amy Smith. "It was really eye opening, and I thought he was very strong to talk about it after all he has been through, I was impressed. It's something my kids won't be able to experience, so I was very lucky today."

As students lined up to hug Mr. Fainer and have their picture taken with him after the assembly, student Hunter Mize said he had been moved by his presentation. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to listen to someone who survived, and is brave enough to tell us about his experiences. I think everyone should know what happened in WWII, how these people suffered, because what Hitler did was so evil and filled with such hatred. People need to know what the Jewish people went through in the Holocaust, so nothing like this could ever happen again."

From the Wentzville School District