Updated 8:30am, 10/28/24
A man can only be pushed so far and Carmi business owner and Unit 5 School Board member Kenny Hargrave had apparently had enough Friday evening. While awaiting an official police report, witness accounts and those familiar with the situation painted a fairly clear picture of what happened. Video of the event has been shared on social media.
It was in June of this year when David and Minerva Lovell went to a school board meeting following an incident at the school their child attends. A complaint was filed with the Illinois State Board of Education in September of 2023 after an incident at Washington Attendance Center where the Lovell’s child was restrained and taken to a separate room. The incident was witnessed by multiple people and recorded on a body cam by a School Resource Officer. Washington was found guilty for failing to properly report the incident.
The Lovells have not been satisfied and David himself earlier this month on Friday, October 4th, was seen pacing outside Washington Attendance Center with a sign that read, “Don’t let the schools lock your kid in a closet. Ask me.” Signs with similar wording have been hanging from a trailer parked outside the Lovell home for months now.
On Friday night, it’s alleged Lovell parked a truck in the gravel lot across from Fifth Street Market, a business owned by Hargrave. Witnesses say and the official police report confirms police told Lovell he had to move it because it was private property going so far as to issue them a citation due to a prior no trespassing warning. Lovell responded by moving the vehicle onto the street directly in front of the grocery store to block patrons from parking there. Police say that’s what caused the verbal argument which escalated into a physical altercation. Hargrave can be seen on video delivering three right-handed blows to David Lovell.
Hargrave was arrested and booked into the White County Jail around a quarter after 7pm. He’s facing two counts of Aggravated Battery. He would subsequently be released on Saturday just shy of a day behind bars. In those 24 hours, supporters took to social media expressing their support for Hargrave and sharing posts saying, “Free Hargrave”.
Hargrave joined the school board in May of 2023 following the election. Minerva Lovell also ran but didn’t receive enough votes for a seat.
Police say additional arrests could result.
Rooster
October 27, 2024 at 12:55 pmHargrave out there serving knuckle sandwiches.
Delaney Jolly
October 27, 2024 at 1:08 pmLet’s not forget Minerva is a racist B*tch!! She has a tik tok all about discrimination against children (Mind you she’s the one talking foul on the children of different race) and how CWC is awful etc!! That family is pathetic and just wants attention and drama!!
Joyce
October 27, 2024 at 3:17 pmShe is not racist. She has a black daughter in law.
Justin Wilburn
October 27, 2024 at 4:22 pmI have only been in this community for two years and have heard their names more than a few times. I don’t condone violence but I feel like he got what he deserved.
Josh Smith
October 27, 2024 at 4:26 pmF.A.F.O
Cody Robinson
October 27, 2024 at 7:31 pmHargrave door dashing the 3 piece (burger, fries & a coke) Respect!!
The whole town
October 27, 2024 at 9:32 pmThey might as well just pack up and move out of town at this point! Nobody wants yall here! Go back to Tennessee or where ever it is yuns came from!
Brandi Williams
October 28, 2024 at 12:53 pmTo me those people have no business in our town they have caused so much problems they need to go back where they came from they are not wanted nor liked here at all. The hargraves have the whole entire town behind them. David purposely provoked the situation. The charges should be dropped you should be able to defend your property and your family
Nancy Beam
November 16, 2024 at 11:40 pmGot some in Omaha that like to target non drug addicts children, despite being reported to FBI for years. It’s always the same trouble makers causing the same problems despite the fact they’ve been caught. Take your drugs/threats and go away.
Nancy Beam
November 16, 2024 at 11:44 pmThat’s right I said something, hopefully my kids won’t get targeted anymore. These people act like they are entitled to harassing until they get what they want, my house has been broken into, my animals hurt, kids attacked and they follow you around town. The minute you leave your house they trespa** then they complain about your security system.
outside looking in
October 29, 2024 at 11:34 amYour community is completely out of touch with reality. So busy blaming the government for all your problems. One native summed it up best; “It’s like a cult, but without a leader because everyone is too average to figure anything out.”
Notshuttingup
November 4, 2024 at 2:20 pmFacts!!!!!