WCSO Press Releases

   As the new Will County Courthouse continues towards completion, the Sheriff’s Office has been working closely with all county agencies and the various construction businesses to assure the safety of the building, its employees, and those who visit.   This week, Sheriff Mike Kelley announced that “Loki” would be added to the Sheriff’s Canine Unit in order to increase the security.

    Loki is a 2-year-old German shepherd and has been extensively trained in detecting explosives.  Lokie and his deputy handler will be on-duty, Monday through Friday, during courthouse hours.  They will not only be assigned to the main building of the courthouse, but they will be checking other associated buildings and the surrounding grounds and parking lot areas.

    Sheriff Mike Kelley stated, “The current Sheriff’s deputy canine handlers and their dogs do an outstanding job out on the streets.   Since bringing back the K-9 Unit in 2015, they have seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal drugs.   With the new courthouse, updated and increased security measures are necessary.   It just makes sense to bring in Loki to help us with identifying any potential danger that may otherwise be missed.  We’re excited to have him join the team.”  

    Sheriff Kelley would like to thank Will County State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow for his generous donation in splitting the cost of Loki.  State’s Attorney Glasgow said, “When the Sheriff requested my assistance in purchasing a canine trained in detecting explosives in order to enhance safety in the new courthouse, I agreed without hesitation. Dogs provide solace and comfort in our personal lives, and high-tech protection to our law enforcement community. Having purchased K9s for seven local municipalities using money forfeited by criminals and at no cost to taxpayers, this was a natural fit. Loki will be a significant and valuable resource in protecting everyone at Will County’s new courthouse. “

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The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance from the public regarding the identification of a suspect involved in an aggravated battery complaint.   On June 12, 2020 at 5:30pm, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a battery complaint at Shades of Darkness Window Tinting, located at 13957 W. Illinois Highway in New Lenox Township.  Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the owner, Wayne Deutsch of Orland Park. 

Deutsch stated that an unknown male black subject with a large beard had beaten him.  Deutsch stated that he had previously done work on the subject’s vehicle.   Deutsch stated that the subject came into the store asking for a refund on the window tint that the subject paid for.  Deutsch and the subject had words, and the subject left the store.  Moments later the male black subject returned and started a physical confrontation with Deutsch.  The male black subject began beating Deutsch as he fell to the floor.  The subject fled the scene in a dark colored Chrysler 300 with tinted windows.   

Deutsch refused medical treatment on scene, and sheriff’s detectives immediately began an investigation into the incident.  Deutsch was unwilling to provide detectives with information pertaining to the identity of the suspect.  Detectives were advised on June 14, that Deutsch had been in the hospital and suffered from multiple broken ribs with fluid in his lungs. 

On June 17, Sheriff’s detectives were advised that Wayne Deutsch had succumbed to his injuries and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office would be performing an autopsy the following day.

As of this writing, the Will County Sheriff’s Office has not received any official information pertaining to the manner and cause of death as it relates to Wayne Deutsch.   

The case remains active and detectives are following all leads.   The Sheriff’s Investigation Unit is asking for help in identifying the suspect in this photo.  If anyone has any information related to this incident, please contact Detective Sean Moran at 815-727-8574 at extension 4914. 

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Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing that the Adult Detention Facility has their first positive case of Covid-19 of an inmate.  On Sunday, June 7, an outside police agency brought an individual to the Adult Detention Facility on a non-bondable offense.  The medical professionals from WellPath, who are contracted through the ADF, followed normal medical screening protocol upon the individual’s arrival. The individual passed the medical screening and was not experiencing any signs of the virus.

Following stringent procedures set in place for all incoming inmates, the individual was placed in a cell where he was required to stay during a 14-day quarantine.  During this period, all inmates are issued PPE and required to wear masks. These inmates are closely monitored daily by medical staff.  

Yesterday afternoon, the individual had an unrelated medical emergency and was transported to an area hospital where he was treated.  While he was there, he tested positive for Covid-19.  The individual has since returned to the ADF where he remains in a negative airflow cell.

At no time was this individual within the general population.  The Adult Detention Facility is continuing to closely monitor every individual coming into the facility and those who remain in custody. 

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Sheriff Mike Kelley and Coroner Pat O’Neil would like to announce that a year-long investigation has come to a conclusion, with the positive identification of a deceased individual discovered in Unincorporated Washington Township near Beecher, Illinois.

On 5/28/19 at approximately 8:48pm Will County Sheriff Investigators and the Will County Coroner’s Office were called to an address in Unincorporated Washington Township for a body that was found inside of a shed.  An investigation ensued in an attempt to identify the badly decomposed body.  It was determined early in the investigation that the unidentified person died of exposure and no foul play was suspected.

Due to the close proximity of horse stables and rodeos in the area, Will County Sheriff’s Office detectives believed the victim to be a local farm hand or rodeo worker that had been in the area. 

The Will County Coroner’s Office enlisted the assistance of Forensic Anthropologist Professor Cris Hughes from the University of Illinois.  Professor Hughes provided analysis that indicated the deceased was a male, had Native American features and numerous healed fractures.  These injuries are consistent with a rodeo worker.  In order to recreate facial features that might be utilized to identify the body, the Coroner’s office enlisted the help of Community Service Officer Beth Buchholtz, Department of Public Safety, Longmont County.  Beth is a trained facial/cranial reconstructionist. Working with the skull she was able to develop an image of what the person may have looked like.

Flyers in both English and Spanish were then circulated around the area farms, ranches, and local businesses.  The Coroner’s Office was soon contacted by an individual who lived in Bradley, Illinois.  This individual claimed the unidentified body may be his cousin, Reynaldo Balleza-Banda.  The description fit, and he had not heard from his cousin since February 2019.  The Will County Coroners Office then located and contacted Reynaldo’s immediate family residing in Mexico.  They indicated they had not heard from Reynaldo since late January, which is unusual.

Further investigation from the Coroner’s Office determined that DNA from the cousin in Bradley, Illinois could be used as a comparison to Reynaldo’s DNA due to the family marriage dynamics.

Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Bradley, Illinois and obtained a DNA sample from Reynaldo’s cousin.  The DNA was subsequently sent to the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Lab for comparison.

On 5/18/20 Will County Investigations were contacted by forensic scientist Sarah Ozanick from the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Lab.  Sarah confirmed that the two DNA samples analyzed indicated that the deceased subject found, and the person who provided a DNA swab were in fact closely related.  Along with several other aspects of the case, along with the DNA, it was determined that the person found almost a year earlier is that of Reynaldo Balleza-Banda.

Sheriff Mike Kelley and Coroner Pat O’Neil would like to thank all of the individuals that worked tirelessly on this investigation to identify the remains of Reynaldo Balleza-Banda, and ultimately bring closure to a grieving family.  The official cause of death is UNDETERMINED.

Yesterday, April 28^th, the Will County Sheriff’s Office responded to two calls regarding shots fired  where three men were injured and transported to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet.

    Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at 5:30pm to the area of Park and Washington Street in Joliet Township where they spoke to an 18-year-old male who stated that he was on E. Washington Street when he was chased by a van and was shot in the chest.  No other information was provided.  The 18-year-old was later airlifted from Silver Cross to Loyola Medical Center.

   Deputies were also dispatched to a nearby residence where they spoke to a 17-year-old male subject who had been shot in the left hand.  He stated that he was walking on Washington Street when a vehicle pulled up and shot at him.  The subject was uncooperative and was transported to the hospital.

   A shotgun was recovered at the scene.  Video surveillance is being reviewed.

    At 6pm, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Nobes Avenue in Lockport Township regarding a 44-year-old male victim who was shot.  The victim stated that while he was bringing groceries into a residence, an unknown vehicle drove by and shot towards the home.  Lockport Fire personnel transported the man to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his pelvis. He stated that he did not see the offending vehicle and was unable to provide any further information.  His condition is unknown at this time.

    Both of these incidents are under investigation.  Detectives believe that these two cases are unrelated.   If anyone has any information regarding either incident, please call the Sheriff’s Investigations Unit at 815-727-8574.    –end-

In these uncertain times, we have all seen the stories of the heroes who are on the front lines fighting for all of us and risking their own lives.  We as first responders have been faced with the added fear and anxiety with keeping ourselves safe and healthy, as well as Will County residents.   

In our new reality, and with any crisis or extreme situation, there are always those in the background that step-up and go above and beyond to help.  Human kindness truly exposes itself and we could not be more grateful for that kindness and support that we have experienced in the recent weeks.  

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley, the command staff, deputies, correctional deputies, and lay staff would like to take a moment to recognize and thank the people from these organizations and businesses who have stepped up and have so graciously donated hand sanitizer and/or masks to the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

*United Way of Will County

*CH Distillery (Malort), Chicago

*Koval Distillery, Chicago

*Stepan Chemical, Joliet

*Hot Rod Barn, Joliet

In addition, we would like to thank Will County Emergency Management for their continued hard work and for providing us with PPE, especially in the beginning stages of the outbreak. We would also like to thank those local businesses, vendors and schools, who wish to remain anonymous, who have also donated to the Sheriff’s Office.

YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND GENEROSITY ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!

Stay Safe!

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