Former Alorton mayor’s home vandalized

The former Alorton mayor was laying in bed with her young granddaughter who was sleeping when she was awakened to loud booms and breaking glass.

JoAnn Reed said, “It scared me and the baby to death. My grand baby was terrified. She asked me if they were going to jail and said they are some bad people.”

One or more people broke two front windows to Reed’s home. It appears they attempted to pry another window open. They ripped the window screens from the windows and left them on the ground. Reed’s 2005 Champagne-colored Nissan Altima had the front and back windows shattered, and all four tires were slashed.

The incident occurred about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

Alorton Police Chief Gerald Crenshaw would not talk to a reporter personally. But, he said via Alorton Village Clerk Alia Cole that the incident was under investigation, and he could not talk about it.

He would not make the police report available. But, a reporter obtained a copy of the police report. It said Alorton Police Officer Johnny Scruggs was dispatched to the home on Walnut St. at 11:34 p.m. in reference to “a home invasion in progress.”

When the responding officer, Scruggs arrived on the scene, he found a female, later identified as Reed on the front porch talking on her cellphone, the police report said.

Reed told police she was on the phone with family when she heard a loud crashing noise that came from the front of her residence like someone was trying to enter the residence, the report said.

The Alorton police officer searched the property to see whether the suspect was still there, but the suspect was not there. The report said, “I believe a pipe or hammer was used by the suspect to damage the residence and vehicle.” The officer found no weapons.

Reed said she has her suspicions of who may have done it. “It was a political attack from someone in Alorton,” she told Scruggs.

“I don’t want to falsely accuse anyone. However, this is nothing new. I have been the target of vandalism for years. They broke out the windows on another car I had and slashed the cars before. They have stolen things out of my yard, cut the power to my home, disabled my alarm, killed my dog. And, they burned my house to the ground in 2007,” Reed said.

“I am appalled and distraught. But, I am also very tired. My children are also affected by this. My children don’t deserve this. No one deserves to live in their home taunted. It’s unjust, but it’s expected. I believe it’s politically motivated. However, I am no political threat to anyone,” Reed said.

In 2014, Reed pleaded guilty to bringing contraband — a cellphone — into St. Clair County Jail and giving it to her niece, who was in jail at the time. She was sentenced to probation.

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Former Alorton mayor’s home vandalized."