Galesburg Ward 3 Alderwoman Lindsay Hillery was arrested twice over the weekend.
The first charge came when Hillery was pulled over by officers early Friday morning for failure to use a turn signal. Police would learn that Hillery had a valid failure to appear warrant related to a DUI charge that she got soon after her election to the City Council.
Police found inside a pack of cigarettes a piece of paper that contained a “crystalized substance”, which officers suspected was meth. Hillery claimed the cigarette pack belonged to someone else.
Then around 6:15pm last night, May 9th, Galesburg Police were dispatched to The Store bar at 497 East Berrien Street for a fight in progress.GPD made contact in the parking lot with 35-year old Matthew Smith who was sitting in a vehicle and told police nothing had happened and refused to step out of the vehicle.
Witnesses told police that Smith had gotten into a physical altercation with his girlfriend:, 42-year old Lindsay Hillery. According to police reports, Smith attacked Hillery after she referred to him as “Lil Mario.”
The two got into a physical fight on the floor of The Store and proceeded to throw drinks at one another after being separated. Smith continued to resist police commands, was pepper-sprayed at one point, and shoved an officer while being detained.
After being restrained, Smith was transported to the Knox County Jail where while doing a search, jail staff discovered a baggie containing 5.5 grams of a white powdery substance that did not field test positive for methamphetamine or cocaine. The substance was sent to a lab for further testing. Smith was charged with Domestic Battery, Resisting a Peace Officer, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Hillery was charged with Domestic Battery.
Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin says his office decided to not file the domestic battery charge.
Although a Class 3 felony for meth possession was filed she’ll be required to obtain a substance abuse evaluation and to follow the recommendations of the evaluator.
Karlin says his office will then evaluate her progress. She has her first appearance, a preliminary hearing with counsel, set for June 14 at 2 p.m.
