We. Are. Peoria (Area)

Four juveniles were arrested for mob action, battery and disorderly conduct after large fights at the Heart of Illinois Fair Wednesday night.

Peoria Police spokesperson Semone Roth says officers were called at around 8:45 p.m. to the Expo Gardens, 1600 block of West Northmoor where the crowd was quickly dispersed and several juveniles were ejected.

No one was injured.

The crowd reformed and began fighting on the south end of the fair a short time later. Officers said they used pepper balls to break up the crowd.

The four were arrested and later released to their parents.

Peoria Police say no one was hit after two ShotSpotter alerts totaling 51 rounds fired.

Spokesperson Semone Roth says officers responded at around 1:15 p.m. Sunday to the 1300 block of South Griswold for an initial 45-round alert.

A six-round alert also came in minutes later for the same location.

A search of the area did not turn up anything.

The incident is currently under investigation. There is no suspect information available.

Three Peoria firefighters were taken to the hospital in the past 48 hours on arson calls.

One fell through a floor that collapsed on W. 3rd Street Thursday, and two had heat exhaustion this afternoon on Arago Street.

The chief called it an “abnormal trend”, but said it doesn’t change the fact his firefighters are injured.

“It’s already difficult enough to do our job,” said Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger.

“It’s extremely demanding. We know our inherent risks. It’s not that. But we don’t have to make them any worse than what it is. And fortunately, we haven’t had the community injured yet. This has to stop. This trend has to end.”

A man has been arrested after being identified as a suspect in a reported stabbing.

Peoria Police spokesperson Semone Roth says 55-year-old Efral Keys Jr. was arrested on two counts of aggravated battery.

At around 12:36 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 3400 block of Starr Court about a stabbing.

A man and woman were found at the scene and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

2 people were arrested after allegedly assaulting an elderly woman and stealing her car.

A woman, 32-year-old Ashlee L. Dixon, was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

A man, 19-year-old Luke Riordan, was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and aggravated vehicular hijacking.

Peoria Police spokesperson Semone Roth officers responded at around 1:46 p.m. Wednesday to the 1800 block of Northeast Adams Street for the reported carjacking.

Officers found an elderly woman who told police she was approached by two people while putting groceries in her vehicle.

The suspects reportedly demanded her keys but she refused to give them up.

She was then assaulted and her keys were taken. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Earlier Thursday at around 12:11 a.m., a license plate reader saw the stolen vehicle which was located in the 1800 block of South Laramie.

Dixon and Riordan were detained and arrested.

Both were transported to the Peoria County Jail.

Just 1% of students at Manual High School, 3% at Peoria High and 31% of students at Richwoods are reading at grade level, according to state numbers for the past academic year.

Across the entire District 150, just 5% of Black students, 13% of Hispanics and 37% of whites are reading at grade levels.