SRO Hallett notifies the community of suspicious activity near St. Joseph and Homer

Residents of the St. Joseph-Ogden and Homer areas have been advised to be on alert following reports of suspicious activities involving vans in the area. The St. Joseph-Ogden School District, through its School Resource Officer, has issued a community warning about these concerning incidents.

In the first incident, which occurred at the Jack Flash gas station, a man in an older red van approached a customer. He inquired if the customer spoke French and requested assistance with his purportedly broken-down van. When the customer declined, the man in the red van, accompanied by two other males, hastily departed the scene, heading towards Interstate 74.

The second report came from south of St. Joseph, near the intersection of Homer Lake Road and Sidney Slab. A farmer, while driving a tractor, encountered a white van parked on the side of the road. The van subsequently overtook the tractor, stopping abruptly in the road. The van’s occupant then emerged, asking the farmer for help in entering GPS coordinates. The farmer did not comply and continued on his way.

While it is unclear if these two incidents are related, they have raised concerns among local authorities and community members. The School Resource Officer, SRO Shawn Hallett, emphasized the importance of vigilance and safety. He urged anyone who encounters similar situations to immediately report them to Metcad, so that the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) can respond promptly and identify the individuals involved.