Joliet man dies from stab wound
A 49-year-old Joliet man died late Saturday of a stab wound to the chest, according to the Will County coroner¹s office. Police arrived to find the man sitting in a patio chair in front of his home in the 1800 block of Beckwith Court. A 12-inch knife was taken from the scene. A witness told police the wound was self-inflicted.

Blotter: Man says he was stabbed 'for no reason'
A 40-year-old Joliet man told police he was stabbed late Saturday in his home on the 200 block of Criswell Street "for no reason."

Police Blotter

Police arrest teen in Joliet shooting
A teen was shot while a police officer shot at another suspect during a brawl Friday night outside Union Station. Police Chief Fred Hayes said the fight broke out around 11:30 p.m. shortly after a Metra train returned from Chicago.

Arrest warrants issued
The Will County Sheriff's Department Fugitive Warrant Unit is seeking information on the following:

Police blotter: 200-foot garden hose stolen
A 200-foot garden hose was stolen between Wednesday and Thursday from the Twin Oaks condominium complex on Twin Oaks Drive in Joliet.

This camp brings together kids, cops
The last school bus pulls up near the picnic pavillion at Pilcher Park and the kids rush to get on. Several police officers watch from picnic tables as the boys and girls made up of 10- to 12-year-olds from every ethnic group and neighborhood in the city run across the field. Some of them turn to wave before boarding.

Joliet homeowner injured in eviction
A 41-year-old Joliet man told police he was injured in a home invasion late Tuesday on the 1300 block of Val A Verde Court.

Cops nab man in classic '65 Chevy Corvair
A Bolingbrook man who has received at least 14 traffic tickets since 1982 -- including one less than four months ago for speeding in a construction zone -- has yet another court date pending, this time for allegedly driving his sports car at nearly 100 mph on a busy Naperville thoroughfare.

Two men arrested for June shootings
Police have arrested two more suspects in a June 12 brawl that ended with three men being shot. One of those suspects faces two counts of attempted murder.

Soft, fluffy and deadly at close range
Careful, the towel is loaded! Police say one man's method of concealment nearly went from fluffy to fatal June 24. Shortly after 6 p.m. officers were on patrol in the 0 to 100 block of McDonough Street when they reportedly saw Courtney D. Sims, 22, talking with another man outside.

Teens arrested for alleged theft
PLAINFIELD -- Three teens were arrested after reportedly taking items from parked vehicles Tuesday.

Four arrested on weapons charges
Police say a man's focus on keeping things hidden at the expense of ignoring what was "in plain sight" led to the arrest of four people on weapons charges Wednesday. At 2:40 a.m. officers on patrol near Cass and Ottawa streets spotted a white 1996 Saturn with a cracked windshield and no front license plate and pulled it over.

Hearing skipped on horse farm murder
Although a hearing was scheduled Tuesday in a case involving the 2007 murder of the owner of a Peotone Township horse farm, it did not happen. State prosecutors and the defense lawyer reached an agreement instead on several issues.

Police Blotter

Police are asking: Did your child get tattooed?
Police believe there are children in the area who have George Jerutis' tattoo ink under their skin, and they want to know how many. Jerutis, 54, has been jailed since Thursday, accused of tattooing two children.

Jail guards tussle with shotgun arrestee

Will County police say while Edward G. Barton, 36, was being held at the county jail for allegedly firing a shotgun to wake up neighbors who had been setting off fireworks, he started a fight with another inmate that led to a lockdown before he grabbed a baton from a correctional officer.

I-57 murderer sentenced
A man who shot a downstate woman and dumped her body on the side of Interstate 57 near Peotone has been sentenced to 85 years in prison.

Firebomber back in jail
A Marseilles man convicted of murder in a notorious 1993 gang-related fire bombing that killed a 91-year-old woman is in trouble again.

Blotter: TV stolen from nursing home
Police say a nursing home resident's TV was stolen over the weekend.

Coal City home uninhabitable after fire
A Sunday afternoon fire that started on the outside of a house on McArdle Road got into the attic and spread. No one was injured, and firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in about a half-hour. But the fire caused about $50,000 in damage, and the house was uninhabitable when it was over, Coal City Fire Chief Harold Holsinger said.

House destroyed in Sunday evening fire
A house that had been under renovation was under demolition after a Sunday evening conflagration. Joliet Fire Capt. Bob Wohlrab said the house at 605 S. Des Plaines St. was engulfed in flames when the first crews arrived at about 6:30 p.m.

Sneaker sale goes wrong
JOLIET -- Two masked men stole a car Friday night from its owner, police said.

Will Co. arrest warrants

Name: Leodies Jordan

Police find 'screaming' man loading weapon
Police say an argument led to a man's arrest on weapons charges early Wednesday. According to reports, officers were called at 12:40 a.m. to a disturbance at 108 Wilcox St. and arrived to hear Steven A. Dunlap , 42, "screaming from his back porch area." An officer walked up to Dunlap's apartment and allegedly looked through the open doorway to see him loading a .22-caliber rifle in the kitchen.

Did you know coffee can kill trees?
A woman driving on McDonald Avenue around 8:20 a.m. June 17 took out a small tree planted in front of a nearby car wash, dragging it several hundred feet. Police said the driver admitted her Mercedes left the roadway because "she was distracted by her coffee."

Police Blotter

Does crime rise with the temperature?
Does all this heat keep "the heat" busier? Local police officials say a heat wave doesn't necessarily result in a crime wave, but there are more calls for service as the mercury rises.

Bolingbrook man faces 10-year sentence
A Will County judge decided last week that a Bolingbrook man was not guilty of attempted murder of a police officer. But Judge Dan Rozak did find William B. Linley guilty June 16 of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer. By law, Linley must serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Two men shot in Joliet lot
Two men were shot by unseen assailants as they stood in a parking lot Sunday morning. Deputy Chief Patrick Kerr said the shooting happened at 3:25 a.m. in the 800 block of West Jefferson Street.

Police: Driver passed out with drugs in his lap
JOLIET -- Police say a sleeping driver ended up taking an officer for an unwanted ride Tuesday morning.

Police: Homeless woman saved girl
Police say a homeless woman kept a 10-year-old girl from being kidnapped and sexually assaulted Tuesday. Chief Fred Hayes said the attempted abduction took place at 7:20 a.m. while the victim was waiting for a school bus at Henderson Avenue and Dover Street. A 31-year-old woman was parking her car nearby when she reportedly saw Alfredo Guzman, 52, approach the victim.

Joliet logs 4 shootings in 14 hours
Police were called to four shooting incidents within 14 hours Sunday and early Monday. "It was a very busy day," Chief Fred Hayes said. During the first incident, a 28-year-old man was shot in the throat around 11 a.m. near Fourth and Wilson avenues.

Don't wake neighbors with shotgun
A man reportedly gave his neighborhood a 12-gauge wake-up call Sunday. Police say Edward G. Barton, 36, was so incensed by his neighbors setting off fireworks overnight he used a shotgun to make some noise of his own around 7:15 a.m.

Even cops hampered by tough economy
Calling all cars, calling all cars. Anyone? Anyone? The city's budget woes have resulted in some very lean times for the police department. As preparations begin for next year's budget, Chief Fred Hayes said there have already been significant shifts and eliminations in personnel and equipment.

No abuse in murder case?
Though Keith Randulich told police he slit his 4-year-old half sister's throat after failing to get a gun he could use to kill someone he believed was molesting the girl, authorities say there was no sign Sabrina Clement was the victim of sexual abuse.

Rioting crowd injures officer
JOLIET -- Police say a riotous crowd injured an officer and threatened others Saturday.

Blotter: Deliveryman threatened by masked gunman
A pizza deliveryman told police he was threatened by a masked man with a gun early Sunday.

Teen dies in Romeoville crash
An 18-year-old Plainfield woman died Friday night when the vehicle she was traveling in struck a tree in Romeoville.

Plainfield woman dies in area crash
ROMEOVILLE -- An 18-year-old Plainfield woman died Friday night when the vehicle she was traveling in struck a tree in Romeoville.

Warrants
Warrants issued.

Blotter: Windows broken out

FBI joins Riley Fox case
The FBI has been called in to assist the investigation into the murder of 3-year-old Riley Fox, five years after her body was found in Forked Creek. On Wednesday afternoon, federal agents canvased the neighborhood where Riley lived with her parents, Kevin and Melissa, and older brother Tyler, until she was drowned on June 6, 2004.

Two dead as train hits car in Romeoville
An Amtrak train slammed into a Saturn that slid under the crossing arm and on the tracks at New Avenue and Romeo Road, killing an elderly couple from Joliet. Both occupants of the car, 74-year-old Harry C. Hoffman and his wife, Doreen J. Hoffman, 64, were dead by the time rescue workers arrived at the scene of the collision shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday.

Coroner: Child's death a homicide
The coroner has determined a 3-year-old girl died from injuries sustained when she was shaken as a 5-month-old. Keisha Tate died March 29, just two weeks after the third anniversary of being shaken by her uncle, Jamal Anderson, in Waukegan on March 14, 2006.

Suspect allegedly chokes police dog
Police say a man who led them on a high-speed motorcycle chase attempted to throttle a police dog as he was taken into custody Wednsday night. Chief Brandon Myers said the incident began around 9:30 p.m. when Officer Mike Gatto reportedly observed Darryl D. Dunn, 44, fail to stop at the red light at Main Street and Route 129.

Police: Stop yields drugs
JOLIET -- Police reportedly seized a large amount of cocaine and cannabis Wednesday.

Police Blotter

Parking not the biggest problem
JOLIET -- Police say one woman's choice of A parking spot drew some unwanted attention Sunday.

Man gets six-month sentence in fraud scheme
A onetime employee of a Naperville construction material supplier has been sentenced to six months in DuPage County Jail for swindling that business. Kevin J. Coombs of Oswego pleaded guilty in DuPage County Circuit Court to a Class 2 felony charge of theft of over $10,000.

Wilkerson named Crest Hill police chief
Dwayne Wilkerson and Ray Soliman have never worked together. Soliman spent five years on the police department, but left the year before Wilkerson was hired in October 1986.

Gang graffiti gets 3 teens in trouble
Three teens were arrested after reportedly spray painting garages with gang symbols earlier this week. According to reports, the trio struck 18 garages in the 1000 blocks of Center, Cora and Elizabeth streets.

Man charged in fatal crash

MORRIS -- An Oak Lawn man faces charges in connection with a local crash that killed a St. Charles woman early Sunday.

Blotter: Shots fired in Joliet
Someone shot at the side of a house in the 3200 block of Windsor Lane Saturday night.The resident told police he noticed the bullet hole in his dining room wall while he was vacuuming.

Shootings leave man dead, 4 hurt
One man was killed and four others wounded in two separate allegedly gang-related shootings that occurred within two hours of each other Friday night. Deputy Police Chief Patrick Kerr said the first incident happened just before 7 p.m. in the 500 block of West Marion Street.

Joliet woman killed in I-80 crash
A Joliet woman was killed Saturday in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 at Houbolt Road.

Police Blotter: Residential burglary
In police news:

Minooka woman convicted of theft
After deliberating for about 30 minutes Thursday, a jury found Brenda Shear guilty of stealing money from a landscaping company. She now faces a sentence ranging from probation to seven years in prison.

Warrants
Warrants issued.

Blotter: Shooting reported
A shooting reportedly occurred Friday night near Broadway and Ross, injuring at least one person.

Robbery suspects: It wasn't us
The three young men linked by police to last week's West Side armed robbery denied involvement even as police insist the crew mugged a man and made off with more than $4,000.

Police Blotter

Child porn suspect must give up camera
Saying it was “creepy” that a Plainfield man charged with child pornography had taken photos of clothed children in his neighborhood, a federal judge ordered that the man turn over his camera and draw some of the shades in his home while he’s out on bail.

3 teens charged in Bolingbrook break-ins
Three teens have been arrested for allegedly taking guns, electronics and jewelry during break-ins at several houses in Bolingbrook. "There's been an recent increase in residential burglaries in the area," Lt. Ken Teppel said.

Class ring and burglary ring?
As you look back on these last four years, consider how you might be spending the next three to five. An 18-year-old man returning home from his high school graduation was arrested Friday for his alleged involvement in a burglary ring.

Duo pleads guilty to trespassing
Two young men pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to criminal trespass to land -- although a police officer and a child accidentally had been hit last year with pellets from their shotguns.

Two cases connected?
Police are trying to find out if there is a connection between an intruder's attack on a woman last week, and her husband's failure to return to their Bolingbrook home from a business trip the next day.

Gunman shoots at car
JOLIET -- Two men were shot at while stopped at a red light Wednesday afternoon.

Two-car crash in Joliet sends 9 to hospitals
Nine people, including five children, were hospitalized Wednesday after a minivan struck a parked van in the 800 block of East Washington Street in Joliet. Police said the van's owner and his 14-year-old son were selling fruits and vegetables from the rear of the van when it was struck by a driver who said she swerved to avoid a child who ran into the street.

Officers carry a torch for Special Olympics
Officer Phillip Bergner admitted he didn't have a lot of experience running as much as he did Tuesday. "He brought his insurance card, just in case," Officer Jennifer Grueber said. But of the nearly 40 Joliet police officers and supporters taking part in the city's portion of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Bergner was among the few to run the full 10 miles.

Joliet officer badly beaten
A Joliet police officer was seriously beaten Tuesday morning while reportedly stopping a 29-year-old Naperville man from burning down his ex-girlfriend's house in Joliet's Wesmere subdivision.

Manhattan police launch alert system
Manhattan fficers won't be "twittering" about police activities yet, but the department is using technology to communicate with residents faster than ever before. Police recently began testing a Web-based, text-messaging alert system.

Teen stabbed at park
NEW LENOX -- A juvenile has been charged with aggravated battery for stabbing a 17-year-old at a local park.

Judge denies plea for reduced bond
A judge wouldn't lower the bond Monday for a Joliet man who was involved in a traffic crash that killed a local accountant. So Brian Patnoudes still needs $30,000 to get out of jail. He's been held there since Feb. 28.

Accused of theft, woman to go on trial this week
A Minooka woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a Bolingbrook landscaping company will go to trial this week.

New charges in nail polish fatality?
Lake County prosecutors who are considering upgraded charges threw out a traffic violation against Lora Hunt of Morris, who police say hit and killed a motorcyclist as Hunt painted her fingernails while driving last month.

Police seek tips to solve Joliet store robbery
JOLIET -- Police are hopeful the public can identify a man who robbed a store last month from a sketch.

Hearing set on alleged child pornographer
While the bus driver for the Plainfield School District arrested on charges of distributing child porn is under house arrest, neighbors feel like their children are the ones being punished by not being able to play outside. Mario Meschino, 41, of 24950 Madison in Plainfield, was arrested and charged with distribution of child pornography May 27.

Shots fired out of back of car
A victim told police that someone driving a gray Jeep Cherokee going west on Washington Street shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday fired shots out of the back window of the car, hitting the rear quarter panel of the vehicle while he was driving eastbound on Washington Street near Henderson Avenue.

Channahon teen jurors hear first case
Channahon's first Peer Jury Hearings were this week, holding "court" on three juvenile offenders who had confessed their guilt to police for criminal defacement incidents. Peer jury programs are not uncommon in Chicago and some suburbs, but this is the first one in the Joliet area.