It was another busy week for first responders across Stephenson County, with scanner traffic from October 4 through October 10 ranging from high-speed pursuits and rollover crashes to fires, medical emergencies, welfare checks and several unusual calls. The week’s most significant law enforcement incident happened Monday night when an attempted traffic stop near Rock City turned into a high-speed pursuit through rural Stephenson County. According to the Stephenson County Sher

RETRACTION/CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Jose Francisco Ramos Perez as the individual arrested in connection with this pursuit and attributed unrelated charges to him. According to an official release from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office, the driver arrested in this case was Jonathan Alpizar of Monroe, Wisconsin. We retract the previous identification and apologize for the error. According to the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office,

An attempted traffic stop led to a high-speed police pursuit Monday night through rural Stephenson County, ending in a crash near Orangeville. According to the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 10:25 p.m. when a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle on Rock City Road near Rock City after noticing it did not have a visible registration plate. The driver failed to stop and fled. The pursuit continued for approximately 11 miles, with speeds reaching more

First responders across Stephenson County stayed busy as September came to a close and October began, with scanner traffic involving crashes, fires, medical emergencies, reckless drivers, welfare checks and several unusual calls. Traffic incidents were a major part of the week. Near Cedarville, crews responded to a crash with injuries at Richland Road and Route 26. Initial scanner traffic indicated airbag deployment, a hand injury and possible entrapment, and the southbound l

It was another busy week for first responders across Stephenson County, with scanner traffic from September 20–26 including crashes, fires, medical emergencies, power and utility problems, reckless drivers and a number of unusual calls. Several crashes caused traffic problems during the week. On September 24, a two-vehicle crash at Route 26 and Route 20 in Freeport blocked the northbound lanes. Initial scanner traffic indicated the crash appeared minor, although injuries were

It was another busy week for first responders across Stephenson County, with scanner traffic ranging from fires and crashes to medical emergencies, reckless drivers and unusual calls for service. One of the week’s more significant fire calls came from South Walnut Road in Freeport, where crews responded to a commercial trailer fire. Initial reports indicated smoke coming from the trailer before responders confirmed it was on fire. Firefighters also handled several alarm activ

It has been a busy several days for first responders across Stephenson County, with fire crews, law enforcement and EMS handling everything from vehicle crashes and reckless drivers to fires, medical emergencies and unusual calls for service. One of the more significant fire calls came from South Walnut Road in Freeport, where crews responded to a commercial trailer fire in a parking lot. Initial radio traffic reported smoke coming from the trailer before responders confirmed

Commercial Trailer Fire Reported on South Walnut Road Fire crews were dispatched to South Walnut Road early this morning for a reported commercial trailer fire in a parking lot. Initial radio traffic indicated smoke was coming from the trailer when crews arrived. Shortly afterward, responders confirmed the commercial trailer was on fire. Multiple fire units responded to the scene. This information is based on initial scanner calls. Details may change as more information becom

A second young man has died from injuries suffered in the September 7 crash on W. Loran Road near S. Lott Road. Kade R. Knoup, 25, of Pearl City, has died after being hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following the early Sunday morning crash. Knoup had been transported from the scene by medical helicopter. Knoup was one of three people inside the Ford sedan that investigators say struck multiple cattle before leaving the roadway. The driver, Tyson C. Clark, 22, of P

A 22-year-old Pearl City man has died following a serious crash early Sunday morning on W. Loran Road. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office identified the driver as Tyson C. Clark, 22, of Pearl City. Clark suffered severe injuries in the crash and died while being transported to a medical facility. Deputies were dispatched around 2:21 a.m. September 7 to W. Loran Road near S. Lott Road after receiving an iPhone crash detection alert. A deputy arrived to find a heavily damag

This Week on Stephenson County Scanner It was a busy week across Stephenson County, with everything from serious crashes and medical emergencies to some unusual calls. One of the biggest incidents was a four-vehicle crash involving semis at Route 26 and Winneshiek Road. One person required extrication, two patients were transported, and a medical helicopter was requested. Other notable calls included a small child struck by a vehicle on S High Avenue, a full cardiac arrest on

Freeport fire crews responded to the area of E. Stephenson Street for a reported gas odor. Crews located a gas leak at a residential vacant property. They worked to have gas service shut off and temporarily evacuated neighboring structures. During the investigation, the incident was determined to involve suspected vandalism, and the Freeport Police Department was called to the scene.

EMS: Lake Summerset Rd Davis for a child cyclist vs car with injuries Stephenson County first responders were called to Lake Summerset Road at approximately 11:50 a.m. to a child struck by a vehicle. The call originally came in as a Life 360 alert for a crash. A second call followed with confirmation of an accident. The child complained of leg pain and was taken to a local hospital. The condition of the child and the cause of the accident are unknown.

The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office has released its June 2026 activity report, offering a detailed look at call volumes, enforcement actions, and jail operations across the county. The numbers show a steady pace of public safety activity as deputies, dispatchers, and corrections staff worked through the early summer month. According to the report, the Communications Division fielded nearly two thousand non‑emergency calls and more than four hundred 911 calls. Dispatchers

On June 14, 2026, at approximately 5:45 a.m., personnel from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of U.S. Route 20 and North Tower Road in rural Stephenson County following a report from a passing motorist of a single-vehicle rollover traffic crash. Upon arrival, deputies located the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle, a 31-year-old female from Freeport, Illinois, outside of the vehicle. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. Based on th

On May 29th, Stephenson County first responders were called to a traffic accident at the area of E. Winneshiek and N. Farwell Bridge roads. The driver of the single vehicle crash had been ejected. The subject was transported to an area hospital where they were pronounced deceased. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

On May 21st, 2026, at approximately 7:59 p.m., deputies assigned to the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The vehicle stopped in a parking lot of a gas station, located near the intersection of Illinois Route 26 and W. High St, in Orangeville. A Sheriff’s Office K-9 was utilized to conduct a free-air sniff around the outside of the vehicle during the traffic stop. The K

POLICE: Galena and Wagner Rd Lena for a vehicle pursuit after an attempted traffic stop EMS: Unity and Wagner Rd Lena for a 1 vehicle accident, unknown injuries Stephenson County law enforcement attempted to stop a vehicle near Galena and Wagner Roads for a traffic violation. The vehicle attempted to allude and crashed near Unity and Wagner Roads. The suspect was apprehended without incident, treated for their injuries, and booked into the Stephenson County Jail.

POLICE: AYP and Winneshiek Rd for two donkeys and a highland cow loose POLICE: Stephenson Street Rd for a disturbance FIRE: Route 20 and Bus 20 for a dumpster fire in the roadway POLICE: Route 75 near Cedarville Rd for a reckless driver EMS: Middlebury Rd Freeport for a fall with injuries FIRE: Davis Fire to Highway GG in Brodhead for mutual aide. A bridge on fire is spreading. EMS: Hunt Freeport for a fall, no injuries EMS: Galena Ave Freeport for medical alarm FIRE: Pleasan

5/6/26 - EMS: Winneshiek and Route 75 Dakota for a 2-vehicle accident with injuries, semi vs car. One fatality reported. 5/6/26 - FIRE: S Cherry Ave Freeport for furniture on fire near a home. Crews arrive to find the home fully engulfed. Stay away from the area. 5/4/26 - POLICE: 3rd Ave Freeport for a theft in progress investigation. No subjects were found. Police ran the plates of a vehicle on scene that came back stolen. It was towed.