Rockford men face murder, attempted-homicide, drug charges

Rockford police arrested Montell “Duke” Montgomery, 40, in connection with an alleged severe beating of a 20-year-old woman who suffered head and facial injuries and signs of strangulation; he is being held in Winnebago County Jail. In a separate case, Derek Allen Johnson, 38, of Rockford, was arrested after an Oct. 6 attempted homicide in Tomah, Wisconsin, where police also discovered an Illinois extradition warrant; charges tied to the incident had not yet been announced. Winnebago County deputies say Devion Fair, 24, faces drug and weapons charges after they allegedly found cocaine, a loaded handgun and cash in his vehicle, with a 2-year-old child in the back seat. Mauri Scott, 21, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Drequeon Freeman in Rockford and faces murder, robbery, aggravated battery and weapons-related charges.