First Week in October 2026 Recap

First responders across Stephenson County stayed busy as September came to a close and October began, with scanner traffic involving crashes, fires, medical emergencies, reckless drivers, welfare checks and several unusual calls.

Traffic incidents were a major part of the week. Near Cedarville, crews responded to a crash with injuries at Richland Road and Route 26. Initial scanner traffic indicated airbag deployment, a hand injury and possible entrapment, and the southbound lane of Route 26 was blocked while responders worked at the scene.

In Ridott, an attempted traffic stop reportedly led to a two-vehicle crash on Rock City Road near Ridott Corners. A person fled after the crash, prompting a law enforcement search in the surrounding area.

Other crashes included a two-vehicle accident at Bolton Road and Stephenson Street Road in Freeport, a car-versus-pole crash on Route 20 near Route 75, a vehicle that left the roadway on McConnell Road near Orangeville, a crash with injuries at South Burchard Avenue and West Empire Street, and a school bus versus a parked car in Pearl City.

Reckless and dangerous driving complaints also came in throughout the week. Officers were alerted to reckless drivers on Route 75, Lake Road, Route 20 and Rock City Road. One particularly concerning call involved a wrong-way driver on Route 20 near Rock City Road.

Fire departments handled numerous alarms and investigations. Calls included a fully engulfed vehicle fire on Route 73 north of Lena, smoke coming from a telephone pole on Greenfield Drive, carbon monoxide alarms, commercial fire alarms and several reports of natural gas odors. Firefighters also responded to broken utility poles and wires down near State Avenue and Iroquois Street in Freeport.

Medical emergencies again made up a large portion of scanner traffic. EMS crews responded to chest pain, breathing difficulties, seizures, possible strokes and heart attacks, falls with injuries, fainting, infections, severe pain and numerous people reported as ill or unresponsive.

Several of the most serious medical calls involved people reported as not breathing or possibly deceased. Exact addresses were redacted from those incidents to protect privacy.

Law enforcement calls included domestic situations, welfare checks, criminal damage to property, theft, phone harassment, suspicious vehicles and people, open 911 lines and reports involving people experiencing mental health crises. Addresses were withheld from sensitive calls, including suicide-related incidents and domestic situations when appropriate.

Animal and roadway hazards were also reported during the week. Calls included a loose dog near Route 20 and Rink Road, an aggressive dog preventing a resident from leaving, a deceased deer in the roadway, a car-versus-deer crash near Scioto Mills Road and a tree down near Route 20 and Salem Road.

Other unusual calls included a person reportedly carrying what appeared to be a gun in a private parking lot in Pearl City, a suspicious person looking into vehicles in Freeport, a school bus striking a parked car, and an object blocking West Galena Avenue.

From Freeport to Lena, Dakota, Pearl City, Cedarville, Orangeville, Rock City, Ridott and Kent, police, fire and EMS crews responded to a wide variety of incidents throughout the seven-day period.

This Week in Review covers scanner calls logged by Stephenson County Scanner from September 27 through October 3. It is not a complete record of every emergency or call for service in Stephenson County. Information is based on initial radio traffic, and details may change as additional information becomes available.