1/23/23
At 6:15 p.m. Sunday near Sixth Street and Springfield Avenue, Champaign, Dominico K. Cosimini, 20, of Mahomet, Illinois, was issued a state of Illinois notice to appear in court for driving under the influence of drugs. Police initially were called after Cosimini’s vehicle struck two parked vehicles. Cosimini told police he had consumed cannabis about two hours prior. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
At 7:17 a.m. Sunday in the Abbott Power Plant parking lot, 1117 S. Oak St., Champaign, U. of I. student Benjamin J. Nelson, 18, of Urbana, was issued a state of Illinois notice to appear in court for trespassing. Police initially were called by the vehicle’s owner, who found Nelson unconscious in the passenger seat.
A cellphone was reported stolen between 9:40 p.m. Friday and 12:15 a.m. Saturday from The Red Lion, 211 E. Green St., Champaign. The owner misplaced her phone inside the business, and GPS tracking information showed that it had been taken to a home several miles away. The phone has an estimated value of $1,000.
A U. of I. student reported that someone entered his vehicle and stole a jacket, sunglasses and keys overnight Thursday or Friday while it was parked in the 300 block of East John Street, Champaign. The vehicle was unlocked. The stolen items have a total estimated value of $590.
A restaurant manager at Papa John’s, 106 E. Green St., Champaign, reported at 2 p.m. Friday that someone had used a counterfeit $100 bill to pay for food. The investigation is ongoing.
Bobby L. Battle, 32, was arrested at 10:32 p.m. Saturday at his residence in the 1700 block of Valley Road, Champaign, for theft and obstructing justice. Police initially were called Thursday by a U. of I. student who reported that her coat containing her wallet and headphones had been stolen after a basketball game at State Farm Center, 1800 S. First St., Champaign. The coat had been left unattended on her seat. Battle, a temporary employee working the game, was identified as the alleged offender. Upon being questioned by police, Battle made statements that contradicted his actions observed on security camera footage.
Julius K. Johnson, 27, no address provided, was arrested at 1:57 p.m. Friday at Everitt Laboratory, 1406 W. Green St., Urbana, for trespassing on state-supported property and on two Champaign County warrants for failure to appear in court. Police were initially called by building staff who reported that Johnson was being disruptive and refused to leave. An officer recognized Johnson and was aware that he previously had been issued a no-trespassing notice for all U. of I. property.
A U. of I. student reported that he had been the victim of a sexual extortion scam Friday. The student sent intimate photos of himself to an unknown person whom he met online. The offender then demanded an $1,800 payment or else the photos would be shared with the student’s social media contacts. The student complied with the demand.
Deanna M. Kulovitz, 21, of Chicago, was arrested at 3:14 a.m. Friday at an apartment in the 900 block of South First Street, Champaign, for domestic battery. Police initially were called by a witness who reported a suspected domestic incident. Kulovitz admitted that she had spat on and struck another person during an argument. During the same incident, U. of I. student Judah I. Green, 20, of Champaign, was arrested for aggravated battery to a police officer. Green shoved a police officer in attempt to prevent Kulovitz’s arrest.
It was reported that someone broke into a car and stole multiple items between 7:25-10 p.m. Thursday while it was parked in U. of I. parking lot E-14, 1702 S. First St., Champaign. The rear window was shattered, causing $500 in damage. The value of the stolen items, which included cash, cattle clippers and blades, is $3,455.
A U. of I. student reported that his bicycle seat had been stolen between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15 from his apartment building in the 300 block of East Springfield Avenue, Champaign. The seat has an estimated value of $75 and was kept with the bicycle in an unsecured storage room.
Please note: Those arrested are presumed innocent until proved guilty, and formal charges may change as cases are adjudicated. For more information about the incidents listed here, please contact the U. of I. Police Department at 217-333-1216 or .