From press release

Dec. 17, the State Line Area Narcotics Team (SLANT), in conjunction with Illinois State Police District 16 State Troopers, arrested a Rockford parolee for possession of crack cocaine.

Cedrick L. Sockwell, 35, of the 1200 block of 15th Avenue, Rockford, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, class X felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, class 1 felony.

Sockwell was arrested after State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Sockwell was driving on Illinois Route 251 at Blackhawk Road. A search of Sockwell revealed 15 to 100 grams of crack cocaine and $2,338.

Sockwell was paroled from the Illinois Department of Corrections Feb. 27, 2009, after serving three years for delivery of a controlled substance.

Sockwell was incarcerated at the Winnebago County Jail.

These charges are only an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The State Line Area Narcotics Team is composed of officers from the Freeport, Loves Park, Rockford and Monroe, Wis., police departments, the Stephenson County and Green County, Wisconsin, sheriff’s departments and the Illinois State Police.

Rockford Detective Agency staff, from left: Cheryl Lewis, Office Manager; Carol Roberts, COO; Chip Block, Operations Manager and Don Roberts, CEO.

By Jim Hagerty
Staff Writer

Rockford Detective Agency, Inc., has received an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, the firm announced Friday, Dec. 17.

The agency has been in business since 1993 and is the largest private detective business in the area.

Owned by Don and Carol Roberts, it became an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau in August.

According to Carol Roberts,  a full-time investigator, private detectives spend considerable amounts of time working behind the scenes, which differs from personas  made famous on television.

“It’s not like Columbo,” Roberts said, referring to the TV series starring Peter Falk. “Although we do surveillance, we rarely go racing around in cars unless a private security situation calls for it. We do a lot of grunt work so our clients don’t have to.”

Much of a private investigator’s work  involves assisting defense attorneys, skip-tracing, re-measuring crime scenes and helping in custody investigations.

Rockford Detective Agency also provides employee background checks, fingerprinting, bodyguard and security services.

Private investigators are permitted to carry guns, however, they must follow industry guidelines and do not posses authority to make arrests or take criminal suspects into custody.

“We have certain acts we have to follow,” Roberts said. “We cannot bully or strong-arm anyone. Basically, we are private citizens permitted to do things within the scope of our license. We just work to make our clients happy.”

Rockford Detective Agency is at 1532 Windsor Rd., Loves Park. Staff can be reached at (815) 282-2822 and rockforddetective.com.

The Rockford Better Business Bureau can be reached at (815) 963-2222.

From press release

Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato announced Dec. 17 that on Dec. 9 Tavieus Simmons, 21, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated kidnapping and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon by a jury in front of Judge John Truitt.

On the afternoon of March 10, 2010, a female victim was with her 1-year-old son, and other friends. They were returning from a shopping trip. They were confronted by Tavieus Simmons and Isaiah Harris Sr. Both the infant and his mother were taken and forced into the defendant’s vehicle. The defendants both had guns. At the time, there was a valid order of protection barring Isaiah Harris from having contact with both the victim and the victim’s son. Police were able to arrange for the victim’s release after he held her and her 1-year-old child secretly for two hours.

Aggravated kidnapping is a Class X felony and carries a sentencing range of six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, three years mandatory supervised release. However, an additional 15 years is mandated by statute when the defendant is armed with a firearm. Unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon is a Class 3 felony and carries a sentencing range of two to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m., Jan. 14, 2011, in Courtroom 314 in front of the Judge Truitt.

Co-defendant Isaiah Harris Sr. is pending trial on the same matter. His case is set for trial in February 2011.

From press release

Rockford Park District’s indoor ice facilities will host the Jr. IceHogs Developmental Hockey League Annual Holiday Tournament Friday-Sunday, Dec. 17-19.

The tournament will feature more than 550 local hockey players ages 4 to adult from the Park District league. Games are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday at both Carlson Ice Arena, 4150 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park, and Riverview Ice House, 324 N. Madison St., Rockford. Championship games will be held Sunday between 1 and 6 p.m. at Riverview Ice House.

Concessions will be available, and spectator admission is free.

For more information about Rockford Park District hockey and figure skating programs, lessons, skill development, and events, visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/iceskate or call (815) 969-4069. For information about accessibility, support and ice sports programs for people with disabilities, call (815) 987-8800.

From press release

The kids will soon be out of school for their winter break. But that doesn’t mean it’s “tis the season” for kids to be without reason! The holidays are a great time to exercise the mind.

Discovery Center provides the perfect holiday mix…family fun, physical activity and even a little science! And Dec. 20-30, Discovery Center will be celebrating winter with extra fun during its Busy Winter Days.

With more than 250 hands-on exhibits, holiday planetarium shows, and special craft activities during the holidays, kids and adults will have fun and maybe even learn a little something about science. Visitors can explore the shapes of the holiday season with special hands-on crafts, puzzles and fun art projects each day from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Busy Winter Days activities are included with admission to the museum. Planetarium shows are $1 for the general public and 50 cents for Discovery Center members.

Discovery Center will be open Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

For additional information, the public is encouraged to call Discovery Center at (815) 963-6769 or visit the museum’s website at discoverycentermuseum.org.

Discovery Center Museum is inside Riverfront Museum Park at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. General admission to the museum is $7 adults, $7 children (ages 2 to 17) and free to children younger than 2 and museum members. Hours of operation are: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday; and noon-5 p.m., Sunday.