WCSO Press Releases

The Will County Sheriff’s Office’s Enforcement Division and the Criminal Interdiction Team seized three illegal weapons in two traffic stops over the weekend bringing felony charges against two individuals. 

On December 7, 2019, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Marshall Donald Quincy Gatson, age 27, of 151 McDonough Street in Joliet around 11:35pm.  While an enforcement deputy was patrolling the areas of Weber and Renwick Roads in Joliet Township, he observed Gatson’s vehicle swerve erratically from lane to lane.  Deputies performed a traffic stop and smelled cannabis emitting from the vehicle and observed a glass jar containing cannabis in plain sight. A probable cause search was conducted and a loaded .45 Magnum revolver was discovered under the driver’s seat.  Gatson was charged with improper lane usage, improper display of license plate, defective windshield, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and defacing identification marks of a firearm. 

Less than ten hours later on December 8, 2019, deputies from the Sheriff’s Criminal Interdiction Team were patrolling in the area of Interstate 57 and Manhattan-Monee Road in Peotone Township.  Deputies observed a speeding vehicle with a defective windshield.  A traffic stop was conducted at which time deputies approached the passenger side of the vehicle and smelled a strong odor of cannabis emanating from the vehicle.  Deputies also observed a 3-year-old child in a safety seat in the back.  They spoke with an adult passenger and the driver, Nicole Horton, age 24, of 43 Chelsie Lane in Carbondale, IL.   A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.  An AR-15 was discovered in the trunk along with a 9mm handgun that was located in the front drawer of the booster-child safety seat that the 3-year-old had been sitting in.   Two AR-15 magazines with ammunition and 9mm ammunition were also located in the vehicle.  A weapons check of the guns was conducted; it was discovered that the AR-15 had been reported stolen, a few months ago, from a police vehicle in the southern section of Illinois.

The three subjects were transported to the Investigation Unit.  The passenger of the vehicle was released from custody pending further investigation.  The 3-year-old child was held in protective custody by Department of Child and Family Services.  Nicole Horton was arrested and charged with one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, four counts of Unlawful Possession of a firearm/ammunition, four counts of No FOID card, and one count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm.    

Photo #1 - Nicole Horton (arrested: 12/8/19)

Photo #2 - AR-15 and 9mm in Horton arrest

Photo #3 - 9mm handgun in booster car seat

Photo #4 - Marshall Gatson (arrested: 12/7/19)

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Will County Sheriff’s detectives, along with Frankfort Police detectives, are continuing their investigation into the two aggravated kidnapping and armed robbery incidents that occurred on November 16^th in Frankfort and November 29^th in unincorporated New Lenox.   We are currently working with multiple agencies in order to identify and apprehend those involved in these crimes. 

Attached are two photos of suspects who we believe were involved in the New Lenox incident. We know that the suspects entered the stores, on a 50-degree day, with full ski masks, layers of winter clothing and coats with hoods up and winter hats on; one suspect was wearing a winter glove.   The suspects also had bright yellow/orange construction-type vests on.  The suspects entered the stores and while at the self-checkout line, made multiple small purchases such as a candy bar, then would get cash back in $100 or $50 increments with each purchase using the victims’ bankcards.   This occurred in at least three stores.  Additional video surveillance footage is being sought.  

We are asking the public for any information in assisting us to identify the subjects.  In one of the photos, the suspect is wearing a black and white plaid winter hat with earflaps.  Detectives are hoping this will assist the public in identifying the suspect.  Anyone with information is asked to call the Will County Sheriff’s Investigations Division at 815-727-8574.   –end-

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Will County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a New Lenox Township residence on November 29, 2019 at 8:10am regarding a missing adult male subject.  Upon speaking with family members and conducting an initial investigation, it was determined that the man was leaving for work around 6:00am when he was abducted from his driveway.

 At 11:08am, Sheriff’s deputies were advised that the missing male subject had been dropped off in Indiana and was found unharmed.  It was learned that four male black subjects wearing ski masks directed the victim at gunpoint to an SUV. The victim remained inside the vehicle while the offenders made several stops at stores and used his bankcard.  

 Frankfort Police Department also reported a similar incident of an armed robbery and abduction on November 16, 2019.  This incident occurred at a bank in the 20800 block of S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort at 5:50am.  The female victim was at the ATM and was forced to access her accounts for cash.  She was driven around for three hours in her vehicle with three offenders. They made several stops at stores using her bankcards.    The female victim was not harmed and was dropped off in Chicago with her vehicle. 

Sheriff's detectives believe that the suspects in the New Lenox case were fully masked, with only their eyes showing, while they were inside the stores doing individual gift card transactions to avoid a fraud alert.  Photos attached were provided from Frankfort Police.  These individuals are believed to be the suspects involved in the November 16, 2019 armed robbery and abduction.   Sheriff's detectives and Frankfort Police believe the two incidents are related. 

 The Will County Sheriff’s Office and the Frankfort Police Department are asking residents to be extra cautious of their surroundings while detectives continue their intense investigation into these crimes.   If anyone has information regarding these incidents, or can identify the subjects in the photos,  please call the Will County Sheriff's Office at 815-727-8574 or the Frankfort Police at 815-469-9435. 

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Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing the arrest of Melissa McGrath, age 51, of 15628 Waterford in Manhattan, on eleven counts of financial crimes pertaining to the investigation that began on August 6, 2019.  Late this afternoon, a warrant was issued for McGrath's arrest for the following charges:  five counts of Theft, two counts of Theft by Deception, two counts of Identification Theft, and two counts of Forgery. 

Sheriff's detectives were called to Lincoln Way Central High School District 210, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox, on August 6th and spoke with administrators regarding suspicious financial transgressions discovered on the accounting books of the Lincoln Way Athletics Booster Club.  Lincoln Way administration stated that they had conducted an internal investigation and believed that McGrath was running two sets of financial books in order to fraudulently take money from the Boosters Club.   

Over the next few months, Sheriff's detectives conducted an investigation and found over $30,000 in Booster funds to be missing from August of 2017 through April of 2019.   It was determined that McGrath created her own Booster account spreadsheet that she would present to the Athletic Boosters and a second official accounting report that she would submit to the school district.  It was also determined that several submitted reports contained forged signatures of Athletic Club Board Members.

Sheriff's detectives picked up McGrath this afternoon at her residence.  She was taken into custody and booked into the Adult Detention Facility.  The warrant holds a $200,000.00 bond (10% to apply).

     Yesterday, November 18, 2019, at approximately 8:30am, deputies from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Interdiction Unit, were conducting patrol on Interstate 80 when they observed a recreational vehicle with the windshield wipers turned on because of rain but the vehicle did not have its headlights on as required by law. 

     A traffic stop was conducted at I-80 and Briggs Street in Joliet.  Deputies spoke to the driver, Michael Glenn Silliman, age 64, of 2402 Delaware Street in Huntington Beach, California.  He was the sole occupant in the vehicle and stated he was coming from California to visit friends. While speaking with Silliman probable cause to search the vehicle was determined and performed.  Found inside the 1997 BMI 110 Recreational Vehicle was:

            *190 lbs. of cannabis

            *1 THC vape pen

            *6.1 grams of methamphetamine and a pipe

      Silliman was transported to the Sheriff’s Investigations Unit and was charged with Cannabis Trafficking; Manufacture/Delivery of Cannabis over 5000 grams; Possession of Cannabis over 5000 grams; Possession of Methamphetamine under 15 grams; and Possession of Drug Equipment.  He is being held at the Adult Detention Facility where he will appear in bond court today. The seized cannabis holds a street value of about $600,000.00 

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   As Illinoisans gear up for one of the busiest travel times of the year, the Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing its plans for a traffic safety campaign focusing on impaired and unbuckled drivers.

"Holiday traffic brings with it an increased risk for accidents," said Traffic Sgt. Kyle Lakomiak.  "To ensure your family makes it to and from your Thanksgiving feast without incident, make a conscious choice to buckle up and plan ahead for a sober ride home."

According to the IL Dept. of Transportation, fifteen motor vehicle crash fatalities occurred in Illinois over the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  Five of the fifteen crashes involved at least one driver who had been drinking.

The Sheriff's Office, together with the Illinois State Police will run their high-visibility crackdown from November 22nd through the holiday weekend and into December 2nd.

The "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaigns are funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by IDOT.  The crackdowns run concurrently with a media campaign directed at impaired drivers, "Life or Death" consequences.  

Visit LifeOrDeathIllinois.com for more information.