Don’t miss this: Man killed in Belleville fire is identified

When Belleville firefighters entered a burning home in the 600 block of Abend St. the morning of March 19, they found a body in the room where they thought the fire started. The body was identified Monday as Thomas Hazzard, 59. Firefighters said Hazzard’s body was found near candles and smoking materials.

Charges were filed late Monday in connection with the attempted armed robbery of the Swansea Jack in the Box. Police say Courtney P. Scott was armed with a handgun when he entered the restaurant shortly after 7 a.m. Easter morning. Employees escaped the restaurant unharmed and Scott was taken into custody by police who had quickly surrounded the building.

Felony charges could be filed as early as Tuesday in connection with a shooting that occurred near Belleville on Easter Sunday. Police say a man and a woman were shot in the 1900 block of Chevy Drive and that after fleeing, the suspect in the shooting surrendered to police.

A 51-year-old Cahokia man who allegedly tried to vote twice in the Illinois primary election is in hot water. Jesse P. Johnson is charged in connection with allegedly showing up to vote in the primary on March 4 and then again on March 5. If convicted, he faces between two and five years in prison.

St. Clair County board members on Monday voted to approve another property tax abatement. The county had requested $61.8 million in the levy process last year, and will abate $29.8 million of that total. The county’s administrator said St. Clair County has abated property taxes for 30 years.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 6:58 AM with the headline "Don’t miss this: Man killed in Belleville fire is identified."