WCSO Press Releases

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing the arrest of Daniel T. Suerth, age 38, of 181 Harper Lane in Lemont on three counts of manufacture/delivery of heroin +100 grams, and one count of possession of heroin +15 grams.   

After a month long investigation, the Sheriff's Gang Suppression Unit took Suerth into custody at the New Lenox Metra Station, 125 E. Maple Street in New Lenox, on 9/25/2018.  The GSU, with assistance from Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers, had been investigating Suerth who was trafficking heroin from Chicago to New Lenox via the Metra train.    At the time of his arrest, Suerth was found to have 103 grams of heroin and .4 grams of cocaine in his possession. 

Suerth appeared in court where his bond was set at $500,000 (10% to apply).   As of today, he remains in custody. 

*mugshot attached*

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 Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley announced today that the Sheriff’s Offices’ ongoing efforts in fighting the heroin epidemic in our communities has yielded a heroin bust in excess of $2.1 million.  Sheriff Kelley stated, “We are stopping these drug traffickers in their tracks.  Our Gang Suppression Unit accomplished this with the help of Romeoville and Bolingbrook police officers.  Through our coordinated efforts we removed 21 kilos of heroin off the streets.”

Yesterday, the Gang Suppression Unit came in contact with a suspicious vehicle near I-55 and the I-355 exit.  Deputies spoke with the driver, Pedro Mirando, age 46, of 5949 N. Kenmore, Chicago, and Maria Delgado, age 31, of 1521 W. Foster of Chicago.  While a check of Mirando’s history was being conducted, a narcotics dog did a search of the vehicle and positively indicated for drugs.  Five kilos of heroin was located in the rear of the vehicle. 

During the course of the interviews, Delgado referenced having additional heroin at her home.  She consented to allow deputies to search her Chicago residence where Gang Suppression deputies seized an additional 16 kilos of heroin. 

Mirando and Delgado were both charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.  They are being held at the Adult Detention Facility and will be in bond court today. 

(*2 mugshot photos and 2 heroin photos attached*)

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 The Will County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in identifying an individual who is going door-to-door impersonating a cleaning product salesman.  The individual is knocking on doors to see if resident’s are home.  If the resident answers the door, he begins to engage them in conversation regarding a cleaning spray he is selling. If no one answers the door, the individual is stealing packages and checking for unlocked vehicle doors.

In a reported incident on 9/14/18, a homeowner contacted the Sheriff's Office to share a security video that showed the individual approach the front door, steal two packages that had been delivered earlier that day, and leave the residence.  The individual was observed with a spray bottle.    This incident occurred on the 2400 block of Chevy Chase Drive in Plainfield Township. 

 The following day, 9/15/2018, on Lockner Blvd. in Joliet, the same individual knocked on the door and spoke with the homeowner outside on the front porch.  The individual spoke to the homeowner about selling him the cleaning spray. When the man left the residence, the homeowner realized his cell phone was missing from a table he had set it on. 

A third incident was reported on Golfview Drive in Joliet with the same individual approaching a residence with cleaning spray. 

Sheriff’s detectives have also been informed by Midlothian Police that they believe the same individual was committing these types of thefts in their jurisdiction in early September.

The individual is described as a male, black, in his 20’s, about 6ft. tall, and 180 lbs.  The subject has tattoos on his forearms.  Sheriff’s detectives are asking the public to help identify this individual and if they have any information to please contact Detective Beckman at 815-727-8574 ext: 4933.

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 Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing the arrest of Patrick J. Goshorn, Jr., age 26, of 13057 Finch Court in Homer Glen for the September 17^th vandalism incident that occurred on the 13000 block of W. Sparrow Court in Homer Glen. 

 On September 17^th, Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence on W. Sparrow Court regarding vandalized property.  Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the homeowner who stated that her vehicle had been damaged by brown spray paint and the sidewalk in front of her home had been defaced.

 Deputies were directed to a 2013 Toyota where they observed brown spray paint on the taillights, trunk and bumper.  The sidewalk was also spray-painted with an anti-Muslim message, “Muhammad (expletive) be upon him”. The homeowner stated that she had no idea who would do this. 

On September 18^th, as the investigation was underway, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at the same Sparrow Court residence regarding an individual being on the property causing a disturbance.  When deputies arrived, they observed Goshorn on the corner of Finch and Trailside.  Deputies are familiar with Goshorn due to several past disorderly conduct calls and arrests at his home.  Deputies attempted to speak with him but he refused to answer any of the deputy’s questions. 

Deputies then spoke with the homeowner of the Sparrow Court residence and spoke with a male relative of the homeowner.  They informed deputies that shortly before 5pm the relative was pulling out of the driveway when he observed Goshorn behind his car acting strange.  Goshorn began waving around a large glass of beer while yelling and being verbally aggressive. The homeowner heard the commotion and came outside.  She also observed Goshorn’s hostile behavior and called 911.  Goshorn was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct.  Goshorn was booked into the Adult Detention Facility and was released on an I-bond. 

 Yesterday, September 19^th, Sheriff’s deputies went to Goshorn’s residence and conducted a consent search.  A can of ‘leather brown’ spray paint was found in plain sight in the attached garage.  Goshorn was brought to the Investigations Division and interviewed.  Goshorn was charged with one count of felony criminal damage to property and one count of felony criminal damage to state supported property. 

This morning, the case was turned over to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.  They have announced that additional charges on Patrick J. Goshorn, Jr. will include one felony count and one misdemeanor count of criminal defacement to property and one count of a hate crime.  (Five total charges.)

 Goshorn appeared in video court this afternoon.  Bond was set at $100,000 (10%) to apply.  A condition of the bond states that if Goshorn is able to bond out he will be released with an electronic monitoring devise and is not allowed to be within 3000 feet of the victim or the victim’s residence.   

Patrick Goshorn’s next court date is set for October 11, 2018 at 9am in Courtroom #405 of the Will County Courthouse.     

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The Will County Sheriff's Office has been notified by the Lemont Police Department that residents have recently reported that they have been in contact with asphalt contracting scammers.  This type of scam is also referred to as a Gypsy Scam, in that these individuals will hit a specific area or neighborhood and once they have worn out their efforts, they pick up and move to the next town or state.  This group of men approach a home and smooth talk the homeowner into allowing them to reseal their asphalt driveway.  These people are very persuasive and typically target the elderly population.  Their sales pitch can include telling the homeowner that they will give them a 'cut rate price'  just for today; or they were working in the area and saw that your driveway needs resealing.  This group usually uses cut-rate products and also asks for payment before they begin in the way of cash or a check made out to cash. 

Here are some other things to consider:  

*If you did not personally call a seal coating contractor, do not hire one that comes to your door.

*Always sign a contract and do your homework to be sure the contractor is reputable.  Just because they may have appropriate work clothing, a truck with a name on it, and sealcoating equipment, does not make them reputable. 

*If these people come to your door, do not engage in conversation, just shut the door. 

*If you have elderly relatives or neighbors, please take the time to school them regarding this scam.  The reason these Gypsies target the elderly is because they can be easily persuaded into trusting them.  

*If you see something, say something!  Report any suspicious trucks or vehicles in your neighborhood to your local police department.  

Although no formal reports have been documented in Will County please be aware that they are in the area of Lemont.  These groups are typically transients;  they will hit an area and move on to the next town. 

Awareness is key!

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Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing the arrest of Leonard Studniarz, age 62, of 513 Blackhawk Street, Joliet Township.  Several months ago, the Internet Crimes Against Children organization sent a cyber-tip to the National Center of Missing and Endangered Children for review.  The NCMEC then contacted the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Investigation Division, pertaining to a user sharing child pornography images on the app, Pinterest, Inc. 

Sheriff’s detectives were able to track Studniarz through his computer IP address and on June 19, 2018, Sheriff’s detectives visited Studniarz at his home where they interviewed him and took possession of his electronics.  During the complete search of those electronics, detectives located multiple child pornography images. 

Yesterday, August 13, 2018, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Leonard Studniarz.  This morning, Will County detectives picked him up at his residence and transported him to the Adult Detention Facility where a $200,000 bond (10% to apply) has been set.  Studniarz has been charged with three counts of child pornography.   –end-