Sterling Police Department

Fire damaged a Sterling apartment building Tuesday night, causing three people to suffer smoke inhalation symptoms and two cats to be resuscitated.

Harrison Webb, charged with attempted murder, is accused of walking from his Rock Falls home to Sterling, going into the restaurant’s kitchen, and with less than two feet separating them, shooting a 17-year-old worker in the back of the neck.

As winter approaches, Sterling Public Library staff members are expecting an increase in calls they will have to make to local law enforcement.

The 17-year-old boy, whose name was not released by authorities because he is a juvenile, also is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, felony burglary and unlawful possession of a stolen firearm.

A Rock Falls teen was treated at a local hospital and released after he was shot in the neck Wednesday night at Sterling’s Pizza Ranch, police say.

It was around 5 a.m. Dec. 31, 2023, when the Bellows family was awakened by their dog Shango’s barking. That’s when they discovered their house was on fire. Four family members, including three children, escaped through the back door.

Johnathon P. Parker is being held in the Whiteside County Jail.

Hundreds of kids and parents attended Sterling Police Department's Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

The teen had last been seen around 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at her Sterling home.

Terrence D. Montgomery, 39, is wanted in connection with an incident that police say occurred in August 2022 in Sterling, according to a news release issued Friday by the Sterling Police Department.

Paul S. Cobane, 43, was taken into custody at 12:45 p.m. Friday in the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon by the Sterling Police Department.

Alan Marshall, arrested on three counts of arson, now has been charged with two counts of aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery and unlawful restraint in connection with events leading up to a Sept. 25 fire at a Sterling duplex in the 600 block of West Fifth Street.

Items accepted for donation include new adult and youth winter coats, gloves and hats.

17-year-old faces a second attempted murder charge in connection with July 23 shooting, will remain in custody due to threat he poses to community, judge rules.

Sterling police say three arson arrest warrants have been issued for a Sterling man who is accused of running from police Wednesday during a domestic battery investigation and then barricading himself in his West Fifth Street apartment shortly before fire broke out there.

Local discussion about housing people without shelter is surfacing In the wake of U.S. Supreme Court action that now allows cities to establish an ordinance to ban sleeping and camping in public spaces.

Jasen Bell’s death is being investigated as a homicide, police say.

Certified technicians will provide attendees with child car and booster seat installation. Technicians also will inspect installed car seats.

The Curls with Cops Community event will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Challand Middle School athletic center.

The shooting happened shortly before 6 p.m. July 23 in the area of 13th Avenue and East Fifth Street in Sterling. Responding officers found two boys – one 14, the other 17 – suffering from gunshot wounds.

The Sterling Police Department has extended the date that it will accept applications for this year’s Citizen Police Academy until Monday, Sept. 9.

An Oct. 15 trial date has been set in Whiteside County Circuit Court.

During the enforcement detail, the Sterling Police Department conducted 104 traffic stops resulting in 40 state citations.

Learn about crime scene investigations, mock traffic stops and SVCC’s shooting simulator.

Robert A. Ager of Sterling charged with 3 counts of murder in connection with the death.

Mayor Diana Merdian swore in Eldon Oltmanns as the newest Sterling police officer Monday night.

One victim was identified as a 17-year-old of Sterling. He remains in critical condition. A second victim has been identified as a 14-year-old, also of Sterling. His condition is reported as stable.

In late September, the Twin Cities Communications Center in Sterling will close, and the dozen 911 dispatchers who work there will join eight coworkers in the Whiteside County Law Enforcement Center in Morrison.

Daveon H. Lucas, 24, is wanted on a Whiteside County arrest warrant for aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm, according to a Sterling Police Department news release issued Wednesday afternoon.

Man cited after bicycling near Challand Middle School while carrying a BB gun.

A 28-year-old man is in serious condition in a Rockford hospital in connection with a shooting Tuesday night in Sterling.

Armed man, 15-year-old driver charged in traffic stop near high school; second 15-year-old charged in threat investigation.

May 1, 2024 was an eclectic day for Sauk Valley Media's Paschal. See the photos from this week's Shutter to Think.

Millie and her handler, Community Service Officer Mary Toth, started their first day working together at the station on Monday.

The new comfort dog is being brought on as Brinkley, Sterling PD’s current comfort dog, and her handler, Community Service Officer Tekla Martin, are set to retire on June 12.

A former Sterling man was sentenced Monday to 23 years in federal prison for dealing crack cocaine in Rock Falls.

A Fulton woman who threatened a Walmart worker with a gun after she got caught shoplifting in the self-checkout lane at the Sterling store was sentenced to five years in prison.

The 55-year-old owner of the Asian Buffet restaurant, 3106 E. Lincolnway, was investigated last week and charged by police with aggravated battery.

Police in four area counties are looking for a 33-year-old Sterling woman charged with a variety of crimes, including stealing from residents at a nursing home where she worked.

A longtime Sterling felon sentenced last month to four years in prison is asking the judge to vacate the judgment and allow him to withdraw his guilty plea, citing his "lack of understanding of the consequences of his plea."

Should you find yourself in the middle of a heat emergency, there are several locations around the Sauk Valley – libraries, senior centers, government offices, even cop shops and hospitals – that serve as warming centers.

A Fulton woman who police say got caught cheating in the self-checkout lane is facing at least 15 years in prison if convicted of an alleged ensuing robbery, weapons and drug charges.

A former Rock Falls tavern owner was arrested early Wednesday after a foot chase and charged with burglary, Sterling police said in a news release.

Sterling’s Police and Fire departments manned buckets at Sterling Walmart Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, for bragging rights and the City Trophy for who can collect the most money for the Salvation Army.

A federal jury has convicted a former Sterling man of dealing crack cocaine in Rock Falls. Two Rock Falls women also were charged.

Sterling's Police and Fire departments manned buckets at Sterling Walmart Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 for bragging rights and the City Trophy for who can collect the most money for the Salvation Army.

With donations from the community, Sterling police treated 15 children to a Christmas shopping experience Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Walmart as part of their Shop with a Cop program.

With donations from the community, Sterling police treated 15 children to a Christmas shopping experience Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 at Walmart as part of their Shop with a Cop program.

A Rock Falls man on the lam for a month in a Sterling shooting incident was arrested after fleeing a traffic stop shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday, lead Detective Maggie Ellmaker said.

A 53-year-old Rock Falls felon facing burglary, theft and meth-dealing charges in Whiteside County also is charged in federal court with selling meth.