Bell-ringer arrested for disorderly conduct
Updated: November 26, 2012
RANTOUL -- A bell-ringer for the Champaign County Salvation Army is behind bars.
51-year-old Ricky Lombardo was working outside a grocery store in Rantoul when he was arrested.
Police say Lombardo was visibly drunk and cursing at people around the County Market on East Grove Street. Chris Billot was in the parking lot when the incident occurred.
"He was just standing there, wobbling a bit, looking like he was going to go to the bathroom on the side of the building," said Billot.
When Billot swung by the store again moments later, he said Lombardo couldn't sit up on his own.
"When police put him in the unit they had to help him up because he couldn't even stand up."
The Champaign Salvation Army said occurrences like this are rare.
"In all my years with the group I can count the number of times something like this has happened on one hand," said the Salvation Army's Ron McDowell.
McDowell said Lombardo had been staying at their shelter, and his program required him to take a breathalyzer test before leaving for the job. When the group dropped him off, he was sober. The Salvation Army also says if their bell-ringers even show up with the smell of alcohol on their clothes, they're sent home.
"It's a zero-tolerance policy," said McDowell.
One, fellow bell-ringer, Ralph Zimmerman, understand. Zimmerman works outside a grocery store in Champaign. He says the whole thing is very upsetting.
"Why anybody would show up drunk for work is beyond me," said Zimmerman. "The Salvation Army is out there to help people, not let people hurt them."
Police say Lombardo was visibly drunk and cursing at people around the County Market on East Grove Street. Chris Billot was in the parking lot when the incident occurred.
"He was just standing there, wobbling a bit, looking like he was going to go to the bathroom on the side of the building," said Billot.
When Billot swung by the store again moments later, he said Lombardo couldn't sit up on his own.
"When police put him in the unit they had to help him up because he couldn't even stand up."
The Champaign Salvation Army said occurrences like this are rare.
"In all my years with the group I can count the number of times something like this has happened on one hand," said the Salvation Army's Ron McDowell.
McDowell said Lombardo had been staying at their shelter, and his program required him to take a breathalyzer test before leaving for the job. When the group dropped him off, he was sober. The Salvation Army also says if their bell-ringers even show up with the smell of alcohol on their clothes, they're sent home.
"It's a zero-tolerance policy," said McDowell.
One, fellow bell-ringer, Ralph Zimmerman, understand. Zimmerman works outside a grocery store in Champaign. He says the whole thing is very upsetting.
"Why anybody would show up drunk for work is beyond me," said Zimmerman. "The Salvation Army is out there to help people, not let people hurt them."
