Carmi Police Arrest Two; Take Signed Theft Complaint from Another over Holiday Weekend

A 44-year-old Carmi woman is behind bars facing multiple felony charges.  Carmi Police arrested Evelyn Morris Saturday afternoon at a home on Schumaker.  The report indicates Morris sliced the forearm of a 22-year-old female and subsequently resisted during her arrest.  Authorities say an officer sustained an injury to his hand during the arrest.  Another was struck in the face during the fracas.  Morris is facing felony charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Battery of a Peace Officer, two charges of Resisting a Peace Officer, and an additional charge of Resisting resulting in Injury to a Peace Officer.  Morris was sentenced to 5 years back in July of 2022 after an incident in which she was arrested after a lengthy pursuit that required the deployment of stop sticks on Morris’s vehicle. Morris was arrested by the White County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Carmi Police Department and the Grayville Police Department.  More on that at https://www.wrul.com/local-news/morris-sentenced-to-five-years-in-the-illinois-department-of-corrections  and https://www.wrul.com/local-news/morris-arrested-following-vehicle-chase

Carmi Police arrested 36-year-old Tara Keown at East Side Package in Carmi Friday night.  The Carmi woman was wanted on a warrant for a Petition to Revoke Probation.  Keown had been arrested in April of 2023 on charges including Possession of Meth, Driving on a Revoked License, and Unlawful Use of Cannabis by a Driver of a Motor Vehicle.  Those charges were all dismissed in exchange for a guilty plea to an Improper Use of a Vehicle involving Meth.  She was given a 6 month stayed jail sentence at the time, ordered into drug treatment, and given 50 hours of community service as well as 2 ½ years of probation.  She remains behind bars awaiting a visit with a judge Monday morning.

Carmi Police also received a Theft complaint Sunday morning.  Phillip Burton of Schumaker told police the rear registration plate had gone missing from a vehicle he owns.  He says it happened sometime between June 23^rd of this year and July 5^th.  A complaint for Theft under $500 was signed and filed.