Last suspect in home invasion arrested, jailed

STERLING – The last suspect wanted in connection with a home invasion at a Sterling apartment complex in December was in the Whiteside County Jail on Friday on a $25,000 bond.

Shawn E. Perales, 20, of Sterling, was arrested at 6:24 a.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of West Fourth Street and charged with criminal trespass to a residence.

He has a preliminary hearing Jan. 26.

Police said Friday that a Crime Stoppers tip led them to Perales, who was staying with a relative.

Police say that Perales, along with five other people, went to Northland Park Apartments, 2100 Freeport Road, about 10:06 p.m. Dec. 20 and pushed their way into the home of an 18-year-old renter.

Once inside, Perales grabbed the occupant and pushed him to the ground, while co-defendant Alexis Velazquez, 19, of Rock Falls, threatened him with a knife and took his wallet and other items.

Velazquez is charged with armed robbery, residential burglary, and criminal trespass to a residence. She remained in the Whiteside County Jail on Friday on a $100,000 bond and will arraigned Feb. 1.

Her cousin, Davia, also 19, of Sterling, is charged with criminal trespass to a residence. She is in the Whiteside County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

Co-defendants Zachary M. Kinison and Alec T. Galindo, both 18 and of Sterling, are charged with home invasion, criminal trespass to a residence, and mob action.

They were in jail Friday on $25,000 and $50,000 bonds, respectively, and have a pretrial conference Jan. 25.

Cheyanne H. Watts, 20, of Rock Falls, who police say was with the others that night, will not be charged, police said. They did not say why.