The Kewanee Police Department arrested two adults and one juvenile in three separate incidents for gun and drug charges. On February 17, 2024, Kewanee Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of East 7th Street involving a 16-year-old juvenile, his girlfriend, and his mother. Officers found signs of an altercation, including property damage, and arrested the juvenile for domestic battery. Officers executed a search warrant on the residence and found a Mossberg 590 12-guage shotgun, various types of ammunition, and cannabis. The juvenile was transferred into the custody of Mary Davis where he is detained on preliminary charges of Unlawful Possession of Firearms/Ammo, Possession of Cannabis and Domestic Battery.
On February 21, 2024, Kewanee Police were dispatched to assist Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) agents for a parole check on William Merritt III in the 600 block of Shadycrest Drive. Five rifles and a significant amount of ammunitation were found in Merritt’s bedroom. The guns and ammunition were transferred to the custody of the Kewanee Police Department to conduct an investigation. William Merritt III, 43, of Kewanee is charged with four counts of Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 3 felony). Mr. Merritt has refused to attend two Detention Hearings so far. A third hearing is scheduled for February 26, 2024, at 2 PM. A Class 3 felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 2 and 5 years.
On February 23, 2024, Kewanee Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the 300 block of Tenney Street after observing the vehicle traveling over the center line and speeding westbound on East McClure Street. Officers caught up with the vehicle at the intersection of Tenney and East McClure after the vehicle failed to correctly navigate a turn onto Tenney Street. The vehicle turned North onto Tenney Street and continued driving in the turn lane. Officers identified Shawn S Swearingen, 57, of Kewanee as the driver of the vehicle. A small bag of cannabis, not properly packaged as required by law, was observed in Shawn’s possession. A search of the vehicle found a 9mm semi-auto pistol and a .22 caliber revolver in the center console of the vehicle. Ammunition, a loaded magazine pistol, and drug paraphernalia were found inside the vehicle. The 9mm pistol had a live round in the chamber. Swearingen is charged with three counts of Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 3 Felony), Aggravated Unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4 Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Class A Misdemeanor), Unlawful Use of Cannabis/Driver (Class A Misdemeanor), Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle (Class P Other), and Driving on Wrong Side of Road (Class P Other). Shawn is currently in custody of the Henry County Jail awaiting a Detention Hearing.
