OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY MAD IS 0 N C 0 U NT Y, I LL I N 0 IS Thomas D. Gibbons State's Attorney 157 North Main Street Suite 402 Edwardsville, Illinois 62025 Voice: 618 692-6280 Facsimile: 618 296-7001 www.madco-sa.org Contact: Stephanee Smith 618/692-6280; @MadisonCoSAO FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2014 PRESS RELEASE Edwardsville--Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons has released two special reports from the most recent Grand Jury term regarding officer-involved shootings in Granite City. In both cases, the Grand Jury found that the use of force by police officers was fully lawful, reasonable and justified. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED REPORTS. The first Special Report involved an incident that took place at the Easy Stop service station on Edwardsville Road on July 9, 2014. Two officers responded to an early morning 911 call from Stephen S. Minch, 45, whom they discovered in his vehicle. Minch, a resident of St. Charles, MO, was pointing his loaded firearm at officers and refused orders to put down his weapon. The second Special Report concerned an incident that occurred on August 2, 2014. Officers responded to a home at 2444 Delmar following a report of an injured woman. Upon arriving at the scene, police repeatedly ordered Thomas E. Noser (d.o.b. 5/11/62), who was armed with a knife, to drop his weapon. He subsequently charged at an officer before being shot twice by police. Noser is accused of battering his 76-year-old mother with a baseball bat. Noser also attacked another family member, a 38-year-old male, with the same bat. He is facing charges of Attempt 1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Domestic Battery. He is currently in custody at the Madison County Jail in Edwardsville on a $500,000 bond. Per general protocol, the Illinois State Police investigated both incidents. First Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Vucich presented the cases to the Grand Jury on August 28, 2014. These charges against Noser, as well as the statements made herein, are based upon probable cause. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. ###
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS RE: SPECIAL REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY The Grand Jury, whose term is May, 2014 through August, 2014, heard testimony on August 28, 2014 concerning the Officer related shooting in Granite City, Illinois that took place on July 9, 2014. The shooting took place at the "Easy Stop", 3215 Edwardsville Road at approximately 412 hours. Officers Timothy Bedard and Ryan Jones of the Granite City Police Department discharged their duty weapons and shot Stephen S. Minch multiple times about the body. Stephen Minch died on scene as a result of his injuries. The Grand Jury heard testimony from Special Agent Denis Janis from the Illinois State Police who investigated the shooting. The Grand Jury also listened to Radio Traffic and 911 calls (Grand Jury Exhibit #1). Additionally, the Grand Jury viewed Crime Scene photographs (Grand Jury Exhibit #2). The Grand Jury watched a recording of an interview with Stephen Minch's ex-wife Amy Vandevelde (Grand Jury Exhibit #3). Also, the Grand Jury viewed Aerial photos of the scene (Grand Jury Exhibit #4). The Grand Jury was advised of the law on use of force by a Peace Officer in Illinois governed by 720 ILCS 5/7-5 read to them by First Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Vucich as follows:... an officer is "justified in the use of force which he reasonably believes to be necessary to defend himself or another from bodily harm while making the arrest"...... "however, he is justified in using force likely to cause death or great bodily harm only when he reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or such other person" The Grand Jury makes the following findings: 1. Officer Bedard's use of force against Stephen S. Minch on July 9, 2014 was fully lawful, reasonable and justified.
2. Officer Jones' use of force against Stephen S. Minch on July 9, 2014 was fully lawful, reasonable and justified. The Grand Jury respectfully submits this report the 28th day of August, 2014. This report has been signed unanimously by all grand jurors and accepted by the court. Dated: ------- Foreperson
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS RE: SPECIAL REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY The Grand Jury, whose term is May, 2014 through August, 2014, heard testimony on August 28, 2014 concerning the Officer related shooting in Granite City, Illinois that took place on August 2, 2014. The shooting took place near 2444 Delmar at approximately 1442 hours. Officer Jason Schaefer of the Granite City Police Department discharged his duty weapon and shot Thomas E. Noser twice about the body. The Grand Jury heard testimony from Officer Gary Brooks of the Granite City Police Department. Subsequent to Officer Brooks' testimony, the Grand Jury returned an indictment against Thomas Noser in Case Number 14-CF-1665 for: Count 1: Attempt 1st Degree Murder Count 2: Attempt 1st Degree Murder Count 3: Aggravated Assault Count 4: Aggravated Domestic Battery Count 5: Aggravated Domestic Battery (see Indictment for further information) The Grand Jury heard testimony from Special Agent Jerri Hochsmuth from the Illinois State Police who investigated the shooting. The Grand Jury listened to a 911 phone call made regarding the incident (Grand Jury Exhibit #2). Additionally, the Grand Jury viewed and listened to the in-car squad camera placed in Officer Schaefer's police squad car (Grand Jury Exhibit #5). Also, the Grand Jury viewed the recorded interview of Shawn Noser Jr. (Grand Jury Exhibit #6). The Grand Jury was advised of the law on use of force by a Peace Officer in Illinois governed by 720 ILCS 5/7-5 read to them by First Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Vucich as follows:... an officer is "justified in the use of force which he reasonably believes to be necessary to defend himself or another from bodily harm while making the arrest"...
... "however, he is justified in using force likely to cause death or great bodily harm only when he reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or such other person" The Grand Jury makes the following finding: Officer Jason Schaefer's use of force against Thomas E. Noser on August 2, 2014 was fully lawful, reasonable and justified. The Grand Jury respectfully submits this report the 28th day of August, 2014. This report has been signed unanimously by all grand jurors and accepted by the court. Dated: ------- Foreperson