Belvidere Police Detectives arrest Rockford man

BELVIDERE – On Dec. 15, Belvidere Police Detectives were called to the 400 Block of W. Jackson St. for a shooting. Detectives arrived on scene and began a preliminary investigation.

Belvidere Police Detectives have since arrested and charged Ronald L. Ball, 69 of Rockford, with one count of armed violence (Class X Felony) one count of aggravated battery with a firearm (Class X Felony), one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm (Class One Felony), and one count of harassment of a witness (Class Two Felony). Ball has been lodged into the Boone County Jail with no bond.

The investigation is on-going and upon further review with the Boone County State’s Attorney’s Office additional charges are possible.

A Class X Felony for armed violence is punishable by 15 to 60 years, a Class X Felony for aggravated battery with a firearm is punishable by six to 30 years, a Class One Felony is punishable by four to 15 years, and a Class Two Felony is punishable by three to seven years in the Department of Corrections.

The Belvidere Police Department encourages anyone having information on a crime or narcotic trafficking to call the Belvidere Police Department at (815) 544-2135 or Crime Stoppers at (815) 547-7867.

Members Of the public are reminded that these are only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt.

Every defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.