Save-A-Lot Fire Decatur, IL 1-14-11

Decatur, IL - Decatur Firefighters are investigating a suspicious fire. The fire broke out around 10:40 Friday night at the old Save-A-Lot located at 2280 East William Street. Firefighters say they found old cardboard boxes and chairs that had been left behind in a stock area were on fire and heavy smoke spread into the attic area. Firefighters were able to quickly put the fire out. No injuries were reported.

- WANDTV

BIG House Fire Video, one death. Must See Video

Fire call came out around 10:25pm on 1-18-10 to a house fire on Finch St in Decatur, IL. The house was completely on fire in a few min. 

55-year-old Charles Mathes died in the fire. During a coroner's inquest Wednesday morning, a jury ruled his death accidental. Mathes was alive for a short time during the fire. He died of smoke inhalation.

West Wood Shooting ~ Decatur, IL 1-8-11

On Saturday January 8th 2011 A call came out to East Wood st in Decatur, IL

Call came out saying one male was shot unknown at the time how many shot were fired or by who. Person that was shot was pumping gas, when a unknown make and model car pulled up on the road and started shooting at the victim. The victim then took off running to his mothers home which was only a few houses down from the shooting. They then took the victim to a local hospital.  Below is a short video from the location of the shooting. The victim was already at A local hospital before police even where on the scene.

Please Note~ At no time will I post victim names or what hospital are being used. The information I got came from police scanners, I never talked with any police or anyone around the crime. 

Northeast Community Fund Building Fire - Decatur, IL

Fire call came out at 3:30am in Decatur, IL. 

Smoke was seen coming from the Northeast Community Fund Building on North Water Street in Decatur, IL around 3:30am.

Reports from Wandtv news- One firefighter was sent to the hospital with minor injuries and it's more then
$100,000 in damage.

Due to the time frame I could not stay that long to shoot the whole thing. Below is my video I shot for
about 4 min.

Why did I become A freelance cameraman?

It all started with one TV show. The show that pulled me in the most was Stringers LA on Tru Tv!

Which at this time is no longer on. I do believe that Tru TV is moving more a-long the lines of made up shows then showing True things that happen. Shows like  "Southern Fried Stings, Operation Repo, All Worked Up" I mean its a joke that they would end a show that shows the men that shoot most of the videos that Tru TV shows on some of there shows. 

Anyways, here is the run down on the show. The show is based around Freelance cameramen in LA, also know as Stringers. They go out and find news story's, film them and then sell them to News Stations.  It shows a side of cameramen that most people don't get to see at all. 

So why did I want to do this? After watching the first show I was hooked. It looked like A big rush, it's almost being like a cop- which I do know that its really not a cop. Some people have said yoIur just getting in there way of working so why do it? People in most towns would not even know what happens at night if it was not for Stringers. This is why I said to myself, I need to do this. I know my town is no LA, but it's a rough little town of about 85,000 people and some crazy stuff happens in this town.  I also found out that at the news stations most cameramen don't work late hours. So that was my key to starting my journey of a Freelance Cameraman "Stringer". 

I started with a old police scanner and a-little Sony Handycam to shoot my videos, I had no idea what I was really getting my-self into, lol.  Now two years later, we run with a few police scanners (new) and some bigger Sony HD cameras. I started off using a Tripod, but grew to not like them. Yes I know some of my videos are all over the place and would be better with a tripod- I have took a lot of sh*t from that.  As the TV show "COPS" also being one of my biggest fav-shows and took after there film crews rules. It's not real- if your not real. Tripods are for people that want to sit still. I'm not that type of person.  

Below is the pilot video that Tru TV picked up. This is not my video!

My Views On The McNugget Crazy Window Killer

A woman in Toledo, Ohio has been indicted for vandalism after going into a rage at a McDonald's drive up window when employees refused to sell her McNuggets because it was breakfast time. 

~Associated Press

Note: This is not my video, this is from the Associated Press!

My view on this video: OK I really don't understand this video at all. Something tells me something else may have brought this woman to killing a McDonald's drive-thru window. Yes I know it say's she was mad because she could not get McNuggets because it was breakfast time. Really there is a few thing's I don't understand. What time is it? I mean, they stop selling breakfast around 10:00am at most McDonald's. So it must have been before 10am, right? If it is who really eats McNuggest before 10:00am? Which leads me to next set of question . Do we thing maybe she was under the influence? One key thing I seen is when she breaks the window. Is that a beer bottle that she throws at the window?

One final thought on this, no matter what time it is, its not worth paying the fines for breaking a window out. I mean McNuggest are only like $5.00.

One of the worst videos I had to ever shoot! Car vs House

One of the hardest videos I have ever shot for freelance videos. When the call came out I do what I always do. Jump out of bed put some crazy looking pants on a shirt and my shoes and hit the door. Now I'm not a firefighter nor a police officer or EMT worker but yes sometimes I put my life on the line to get the best shot. Sometimes I have to see some of the worst stuff also. Now I know I don't have to do this, no one is forcing  me to do this. This is a hobby of mine. I love to film, film is my life. 

Please watch the video below and I will give you some info below the video.

 

~Mr Hughes a 62 husband and father was pronounced dead at the scene around 3:40 am. He had severe head and chest trauma. This was all brought on by a 19 year old man. The man who took off from police after police tried to stop him for a taillight out hit speeds over 60 miles an hour. He lost control of his car and the car
went airborne, which then the car went inside the home of Mr and Ms Hughes. The car happen to end up on the
bed in the bedroom of Mr and Ms Hughes. As Ms Hughes laid there with a car on top of her for about 3+ hours
she had no idea that her husband had already past. ~

~More Info coming soon of this~