URBANA, Illinois – University of Illinois Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Jan. 20 death of Akul Dhawan, a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Information collected so far supports the initial belief that the death was accidental, and no foul play occurred. Mr. Dhawan, 18, was found deceased at about 11:08 a.m. Jan. 20 in the 1200 block of West Nevada Street, Urbana. A friend who lost contact with Mr. Dhawan had called police at 1:23 a.m. that morning, expressing that he was concerned for Mr. Dhawan. Investigators have assembled a timeline of the initial [...]

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 [...]

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 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.

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — Local police, including the University of Illinois Police Department, are holding a friendly competition as the holidays approach to put meals on the tables of local families. Departments are "competing" to see which can bring in the most food donations, all of which will go to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. The University of Illinois Police Department (the eventual winner) will accept donations Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at State Farm Center (west circle drive), 1800 S. First St., Champaign. All donations will stay within our community. For those who can't make it on Nov. [...]