In one day, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and St. Elmo Police Department handled 3 major issues

On August 27, 2025 at 9:21 am Fayette County Deputies and St. Elmo Officers responded to 421 Cherokee Strip in Brownstown after information was gathered on the whereabouts of Carl T. Cornett (31) who was wanted out of Jasper County on an original charge for Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. Deputies made entry into the residence where Cornett was located in the crawl space of the residence. Whitney K. Lowe (30) was also arrested for harboring a fugitive. Cornett and Lowe were transported to the Fayette County Jail. Cornett was later transferred to Jasper County.

August 27, 2025 at 9:59 pm Fayette County Deputies and St. Elmo Officers responded to 305 South Willard Street in Brownstown for reports of “Shots Fired”. Deputies arrived within one (1) minute after receiving the call for service. Deputies located a total of five (5) spent 40 caliber shell casings in the roadway. Deputies gathered witness statements and utilized automated license plate readers to identify a suspect. Vandalia Officers located the vehicle, and a subsequent search warrant was obtained. Deputies/Officers located a firearm during the course of the search warrant. John D. Shelton (43) was arrested for aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon.

August 27, 2025 at 11:34 pm after St. Emo Police observed a “Motorist Assist” on I-70 at the 66-mile marker westbound. The Officer conversed with the motorist and quickly realized the motorist was being dishonest. Shortly thereafter the motorist began to run from the Officer and attempted to crawl into a water filled culvert to evade capture. The Officer was able to gain control of the motorist until Fayette County Deputies and Vandalia Police arrived to assist. It was later discovered the motorist, Darren E. Sydnor (60), had just stolen the vehicle he was driving from 351 West Cumberland Road in Brownstown. Sydnor advised the vehicle he was driving had ran out of gas in Brownstown next to where he had stolen the vehicle. Sydnor admitted to Officers/Deputies that he fled a traffic stop from Missouri Authorities and was currently on parole in Missouri. Sydnor was arrested and transported to the Fayette County Jail for processing. Sydnor was booked for motor vehicle theft, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia.