Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler says violent crimes have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Facebook
Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler says violent crimes have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Facebook
Police chiefs are saying that one of the negative side effects of COVID-19 has been in an uptick in violent crimes in parts of Illinois.
From fights resulting in multiple arrests to other instances, Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler told WCIA in late-May that the stay-at-home order is making violence more common.
A recent fight in downtown Taylorville broke out between multiple men and drew a crowd of more than 100 spectators, WCIA reported.
"There were weapons involved, sledgehammers and shovels,” Wheeler told WCIA in describing the scene.
Wheeler isn't the only one that has noticed it becoming a new normal for the city either.
A Taylorville resident, who asked to stay anonymous, told WCIA, “It’s become normal for Taylorville; that type of chaos."
When police arrived at the scene of the fight, they broke made four arrests — charging suspects with mob action and aggravated battery, WCIA reported.
“We separated all the parties and noticed an individual laying on the ground with blood coming from his head,” Wheeler told WCIA. The individual was brought to the hospital and has since been discharged. But this one fight is just an example of the increase in crime the city has been seeing.
“What we’ve seen in the last 10 days is a spike in crime. Our thefts are going up. We’re getting fight calls.” Wheeler told WCIA “With this COVID-19, people are stressed and frustrated because things are not going their way. Now they’re coming out. A lot of people are angry and just making bad decisions.”
Decatur has also been seeing an increase in crime in the city. Jim Getz, Decatur police chief, posted a message on social media to inform the public of the increased gun violence during the pandemic, WCIA reported. Police have said any knowledge residents have of crimes will help the police.
“Community engagement and community policing is our main focus,” Wheeler told WCIA. “I can say without a doubt that we have the support of the community because when they call and tell us information, we take action.”
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