Found to be wanted on upstate warrant
WHITE CO., Ill. - New Year's celebrations all around White County were mild by comparison to what happened at a rural Grayville residence involving a guy with a bad haircut allegedly swinging a pickaxe and injuring two.
White County Sheriff's authorities report that at approximately 12:28 a.m. dispatch received several calls from 2476 County Road 2125E in reference to a fight in progress. Another call to 911 had advised that the suspect had left in a maroon Ford Taurus heading south from the residence. White County Deputy Scott Cantrell responded from Carmi; Carmi Police Sgt Brad Spence and Illinois State Police Trooper Matt Haywood, also went en route to the location, just south of Grayville. Since it was near that town, dispatch also notified Grayville officer Shannon Trusty, to respond and secure the scene.
When she arrived, she advised dispatch that the suspect, Nicholas Kramer, 39, of Peoria, had battered another person and left in the Taurus. She stated that Kramer had another person with him who wasn't involved in the altercation, and also asked for EMS to respond, because the victim of the battery had several injuries, including possibly a broken arm. White County EMS responded to the scene.
Cantrell didn't locate the suspect vehicle en route to the scene, so Trooper Haywood set up at the Phillipstown crossroads east of Crossville to attempt to locate the suspect.
Cantrell then arrived at the scene and spoke to the victim, Dustin Meese, 31 of Grayville, who was in severe pain and being treated by a first responder. As such, Cantrell began talking to other witnesses, including Tashauna Perry, 28 of Grayville, Jason Kramer, no age or address given, and Dawn Fowler, 51 of Grayville. Perry appeared to have a broken finger from the altercation and was unable to write a statement, and Kramer was incapable of writing a statement (no explanation for that, but it was New Year's, so that might give a clue), so Fowler furnished a written statement.
Fowler, a witness and girlfriend to Jason Kramer, stated that Nicholas Kramer and Dustin Meese had begun an argument over something to do with what Meese had said to his girlfriend Perry. This argument started in the house belonging to Carol Kramer at the noted address. Other witnesses observed Nicholas Kramer and Meese fighting in the house. Meese left after the fight and went to his trailer at a nearby property. A few minutes later, Nicholas Kramer came into the trailer uninvited and Fowler told him to leave, but Kramer picked up a pickaxe and started "going after" Meese. Apparently Perry was injured trying to get the pickaxe away from Kramer. According to Fowler, Kramer battered Mees with the pickaxe before Jason Kramer was able to take the axe away from Nicholas Kramer. After the altercation, Nicholas and his boyfriend, Josh Leingang, 40 of Springfield, left in Nicholas Kramers vehicle, a maroon Ford Taurus.
White County EMS evaluated Dustin Meese's injuries and transported him to Fairfield Memorial Hospital. Meese signed a complaint form before he left. EMS had checked on Perry's injuries and it was decided by family to take her to the hospital to get her possibly broken finger treated.
By this time, Haywood had located the suspect vehicle at the Phillipstown crossroads. He initiated an investigative stop and identified the driver of the vehicle as Nicholas Kramer. Haywood had learned before the stop that Kramer was wanted on a warrant issue by Peoria County. As well, Kramer's driver's license was also suspended. Carmi Police Sgt Brad Spence arrived to assist Haywood, who then took Kramer into custody and transported him to the White County Jail; the passenger, Leingang, was transported to the sheriff's office to be interviewed.
As of today it's unknown whether Kramer remains in White County or whether he's been transported back up to Peoria to face the law up there.