Highland area police briefs for the week of Jan. 11-17

Editor’s note: The following incidents were listed among the official reports of local law enforcement agencies and court clerks. Readers are reminded that an arrest or charge does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination.

Missing Highland girl found

The Highland Police Department sent out a press release and Facebook request around 9:23 p.m. on Jan. 14 asking for the public’s assistance in locating a local teenager. About two hours later, she was found.

When it sent out the request, HPD said that Samantha Haller, 15, had last been seen in Highland in the 12500 block of State Route 143 at about 3 p.m.

At 11:13 p.m., HPD sent out the following statement: “Thank you for all the cooperation. I am happy to report that the Highland Police Department with the assistance of the Granite City Police Department and several very attentive good Samaritans were able to locate Samantha and bring her home safely.”

Greenville inmate sentenced for possession of Pot

Gregory Mason, 27, was sentenced on Jan. 14 to eight additional months behind bars for possession of contraband by a federal inmate.

Mason was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution located in Greenville, Illinois, commonly known as FCI-Greenville, at the time the offense was committed.

The charge arose when, on Dec. 20, 2014, an officer monitoring the visiting room at FCI-Greenville observed Mason acting suspiciously. Mason was immediately placed in a dry cell after his visit ended so that his bowel movements could be monitored. On Dec. 22, 2014, Mason defecated out four balloons that contained marijuana.

HPD misdemeanor warrant arrests

▪ Matthew K. Fox, 38, of Highland was arrested by HPD on Jan. 13 on a Highland warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of trespassing.

▪ Jamie M. Blaylock, 30, of Highland was arrested on Jan. 13 on a Highland warrant for failure to appear in court on a theft charge.

▪ Travis A. Tiek, 38, of Alton was arrested on Jan. 14 on an Alton warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of being a pedestrian under the influence and a St. Clair County warrant for riding public transportation without a valid ticket. He was turned over to Alton police.

HPD misdemeanors, citations, Tickets

Jan. 11

▪ Brandon W. Hanna, 23, of Highland was charged with battery for allegedly pushing a female victim to the ground and stepping on her feat, causing bruising.

Jan. 12

▪ A juvenile, 17, of Highland was charged with speeding.

▪ A juvenile, 17, of Highland was charged with a muffler violation.

Jan. 13

▪ Justin L. Allen, 24, of Highland was charged with criminal damage to property for allegedly damaging the screen door of a residence.

▪ Katlin Streeb, 25, of Highland was charged with operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

▪ Matthew McNeilly, 21, of Highland was charged with operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

▪ Timothy Blaylock, 31, of Highland was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Jan. 14

▪ Jason L. Mettler, 42, of Highland was charged with a parking violation.

▪ David E. Peckham, 35, of Highland was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly making a 911 call when he did not have an emergency.

Jan. 15

▪ Dillyn Riechmann, 25, of Edwardsville was charged with operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

Jan. 16

▪ Steven J. Eaton, 25, of Highland and Dominick M. Rund, 24, of Breese were each charged with illegal transportation of alcohol.

▪ Dominick Rund, 24, of Breese was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol.

▪ Diane Thole, 33, of New Baden was charged with speeding.

▪ Scott Plunkett, 49, of Florissant, Mo., was charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

Jan. 17

▪ A juvenile, 17, of Highland was charged with possession of tobacco by a minor.

▪ A juvenile, 15, of Highland was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis.

▪ A juvenile, 15, of Highland was charged with possession of cannabis.

▪ A juvenile, 16, of Pocahontas was charged with possession of tobacco by a minor.

Jan. 18

▪ Steven J. Eaton, 25, of Highland and Dominick M. Rund, 24, of Breese were each charged with fighting in public at Floyd’s Bar.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 5:44 AM with the headline "Highland area police briefs for the week of Jan. 11-17."