WCSO Press Releases

On 07/27/2019, at approximately 5:15 AM, Deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of shots fired on the 200 block of Reichman Street in Joliet Township. When deputies arrived on scene, they located Tamala R. Clayton, age 44, deceased inside of the residence.

Witnesses to the incident advised detectives that sometime shortly after 5:00 AM, someone began pounding on the front door of the residence. Witnesses stated that Tamala Clayton opened the front door of the residence, and unknown person(s) immediately fired numerous rounds in her direction. Tamala Clayton was shot multiple times as she opened the front door of the residence.

Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office have been working throughout the weekend on this investigation, and are seeking the assistance of the public. The Will County Sheriff’s Office are asking any resident or business that has surveillance videos or reports of suspicious activity between the hours of 4:00 AM and 5:30 AM on 07/27/2019 to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit at (815) 727-8574. The area of focus is specifically from 4^th Avenue to Doris Avenue between Route 52 (Chicago Street) and Richards Street in Joliet.

Anyone with information can also submit a tip on the Will County Sheriff’s Office website located at www.willcosheriff.org by going to the online forms section, or by contacting Will County Crime Stoppers at (800) 323-6734 or online at https://crimestoppersofwillcounty.org. All tips received can remain anonymous.

The investigation is ongoing.

On Thursday, July 18, 2019, Jay A. Nink, age 32, of Joliet, was served a warrant at the Will County Adult Detention Facility with Soliciting Murder for Hire charges. Nink has been in custody since July 2017 on charges from the Joliet Police Department related to multiple felony gun charges and armed habitual criminal charges.

On July 1, 2019, the Sheriff’s Office was notified that approximately seven weeks ago Nink had approached a fellow inmate regarding “taking care of” a confidential informant who would be testifying against him in his upcoming case. According to reports, Nink told the fellow inmate that he would make it worth his while to have the confidential informant killed. The fellow inmate, working with detectives, convinced Nink that he had a relative who was a hit man and would carry out the murder for payment of cash and guns. Sheriff’s detectives continued working the investigation and received the warrant on Thursday.

On Friday, July 19th, Nink appeared in bond court and received a $10 million bond for the Class X felony charges. His next court date is scheduled for 8/8/19 at 9am at the Will County Courthouse.

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The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that bond has been set at $500,000 for the sexual assault of an underage girl. On April 2, 2019, the female juvenile and her mother made a complaint regarding a criminal sexual assault that occurred in Beecher, Crete Township. Upon speaking to Will County Sheriff’s detectives, it was learned that on two occasions in 2018, Michael Takacs, who was an acquaintance of the family and had been living with them at the time of the incidents, had inappropriate contact with the female juvenile. It was also learned that a sexual assault had occurred on April 1, 2019.

During the course of the investigation, Michael Takacs was brought in for questioning. Along with evidence collected, Takacs also made statements incriminating himself. A warrant was issued on July 11, 2019 and Michael Takacs, age 24, of 319 Mallard Court in Beecher was taken into custody and charged with 3 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, 4 counts of criminal sexual assault, and 2 counts of battery. He is being held at the Adult Detention Facility.

Takacs assisted with coaching baseball at Beecher Junior High School and Beecher High School.

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On 07/15/2019, at approximately 4:25 PM, the Will County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of shots fired in the area of Lawrence Avenue and Bruce Road in Unincorporated Lockport Township.  When members of the Will County Sheriff’s arrived on scene, evidence of a rifle being fired in the area was located.

Members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office were initially unable to locate anyone in the area, but did observe an AR-15 style rifle inside of a residence located in the 2700 block of Lawrence Avenue through a window.  A short time later, the Laraway Communications Center received a call from a male suspect who resided at the Lawrence Avenue address.  This suspect began making threats to law enforcement over the phone.     

Responding deputies were able to locate the suspect at the residence on Lawrence Avenue, just north of Bruce Road who refused to speak with deputies.  Deputies considered this a barricaded suspect situation and were able to ascertain that there were no other individuals present in the home.  Will County Sheriff’s Office deputies established a perimeter around the residence and the Will County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to the scene. 

An open dialogue was established with the suspect, who at that time refused to vacate the residence.  After speaking with the suspect off and on for several hours, the suspect surrendered to members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office shortly before 10:00 PM without incident.  A search of the area around the residence was conducted and an AR-15 style rifle was located on the property.   

The suspect, Ryan Gass (age 35), was taken into custody for various offenses, and was transported to the Will County Sheriff’s Investigations Office for further questioning.  Charges are pending against the suspect, and Ryan Gass will be later transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility for further processing.  No photo of the suspect is available at this time.         

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the arrest of Nicholas M. Cox, age 29, of 609 S. Water Street in Wilmington for child luring. Around 8:20pm, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Lakewood Drive in Wilmington for a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the mother of a female juvenile who stated that prior to her 911 call her daughter and the neighbor’s juvenile daughter were outside on the driveway riding bikes. The woman and her husband were inside the house watching the girls from the front window when they saw a dark colored Sedan parked alongside the road. When the woman went outside, she realized the neighbor’s daughter was near the driver’s side of the vehicle. As the woman got closer, the vehicle sped off. The woman was able to memorize the license plate.

After the incident the neighbor’s daughter provided information to the woman and then to her parents regarding the man taking off his seatbelt and showing the girl sexually inappropriate photos on his phone. The woman then contacted 911.

Sheriff’s deputies ran the vehicle registration and found the vehicle at the home of Nicholas Cox. Deputies brought Cox to the Investigations Division for questioning. He was arrested and transported to the Adult Detention Facility shortly before midnight. He appeared in bond court today and received a $40,000.00 bond (10% to apply).

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The Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing plans for July fourth traffic enforcement with a focus on impaired and unbuckled drivers. The safety campaign has already begun and will run through July 8th. "We are asking all residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day safetly," said Traffic Sergeant Kyle Lakomiak. "It's simple: If you're driving, don't drink. Our officers will be out in full force to keep impaired drivers off the roadways."
The Sheriff's Office is joining the Illinois State Police and more than 160 local police departments for the increased statewide enforcement effort. The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and "Click It or Ticket" campaigns are made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Let's make this celebration a great one! Designate a sober driver; don't let friends/family drive under the influence! Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears a seat belt. Not only is it the law, it's your best defense against an impaired driver.

Happy Fourth of July! Party safely and responsibly!

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