Fake tickets
A U. of I. student reported that someone purporting to be another U. of I. student in a GroupMe chat offered concert tickets for sale. The purchaser asked for confirmation of the seller's identity, and the seller offered a photo of herself holding her student identification. The purchaser sent $450 to the seller via Zelle, and the seller subsequently cut off communication. It was later determined that the student who was implicated as the seller had herself been involved in a similar scam, during which the student sent the scammer a photo of herself holding her student identification.
University Police investigating student death
URBANA, Illinois – University of Illinois Police are investigating after an 18-year-old U. of I. student was found deceased Saturday morning in the 1200 block of West Nevada Street, Urbana. Preliminary information suggests that there was no foul play involved, and the death is initially believed to be accidental. The investigation is ongoing, and the status may change as new information is collected. At 1:23 a.m. Saturday morning, the student’s friend called police to say that he had not seen the student for about an hour and could not reach him via telephone. University Police searched the area where the [...]
Fake bank employee
A U. of I. student reported that she received a text message purporting to be from her bank asking her if a transaction was valid or fraudulent. She replied that it was fraudulent. The student then received a call from someone purporting to be a bank employee who asked for account information, passcodes, personal identification numbers, and Social Security information, which the student provided. The student later observed nearly $8,000 in fraudulent charges to her account.
No shots fired, no injuries in armed person call
URBANA, Illinois – At 12:21 p.m. Saturday, University of Illinois Police responded to the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center after it was reported that someone displayed a firearm during a dispute. No shots were fired, and no one was injured. People at the I Hotel, 1900 S. First St., Champaign, self-evacuated when they heard reports of a weapon seen. The incident occurred during a non-UI graduation event that was being hosted at the I Hotel. Police quickly determined that there was no ongoing emergency threatening campus. Police conducted a traffic stop nearby on a vehicle that was thought to [...]
Ballinger to lead U. of I. Division of Public Safety, serve as police chief
Ballinger was hired as a police officer in 2004. During his nearly 20-year tenure at Illinois, he has served in multiple leadership ranks and several special units, including as METRO SWAT commander, an instructor on appropriate use-of-force techniques, and as a field training instructor for new officers.