WCSO Press Releases

The Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing that it has begun its traffic safety campaign focusing on drunk, unbuckled and distracted drivers.   The high-visibility crackdown began August 20th and will run through the Labor Day weekend until September 4th. 

The Will County Sheriff's Office is partnering with the Illinois State Police and other local law enforcement agencies to increase this effort.  Will County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Lakomiak stated, "This isn't about writing tickets or making arrests.  This is about saving lives and helping people realize impaired driving can be fatal.  It's a matter of life or death."

This Labor Day weekend, remember to designate a sober driver and don't let friends or family drive drunk.  Buckle up and put your cell phone away while driving!  Help keep our roads safe!

The Illinois Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is administered and funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal dollars managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.   -end-

The Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (WCSAPC) invites you to "Be In The Know" - a parent and youth forum to be held on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Lincoln Way West High School from 4pm to 7pm.  The high school is located at 21701 Gougar Road in New Lenox.   The event is free and open to the public.

This family-focused forum will feature an all star lineup, moderated by Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley.  The forum will offer an informative discussion for parents and youth regarding the dangers of alcohol and drugs.

Hear from NBA stars including Cameron Payne/Chicago Bulls, Pamela McGee/former WNBA player & mother of  JaVale McGee of the Golden State Warriors, Alondo Tucker/former NBA Phoenix Suns, Roger Powell Jr./former NBA Utah Jazz, and Pastor Jolinda Wade/New Creation B.A.L.M. Church & mother of Dwayne Wade.

The vision of the WCSAPC is to educate youth on how to stay drug and alcohol free; to educate parents on how to keep their youth drug and alcohol free; to work in conjunction with the community to create an environment where substance abuse is no longer the norm or an accepted behavior; to provide options and alternative activities that promote healthy lifestyle decisions; and to educate youth on quality of life issues pertaining to substance abuse/alcohol awareness.

For more information on the WCSAPC or the upcoming Forum, please visit their Facebook page by searching Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition or contact Coordinator Cherry Powell at 815-724-1878. 

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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-

Yesterday around 5:20pm, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 24000 block of Jensen Street in Shorewood, Joliet Township.  Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the mother of an 11-year-old female who stated that around 5pm her daughter was given permission to walk to her friend’s house on Jensen Street, two blocks west of their home on S. Sarver Drive.  At approximately 5:10pm, the mother received a phone call from the intended friend’s mother who advised that her daughter had arrived to their house in a panic and had been chased by an unknown male. 

 Deputies then spoke to the  girl who stated that while walking westbound, approaching Canterbury, an unknown male white with brown/black ear length hair, wearing black shorts and a black t-shirt, came running towards her yelling, “Come here, I got something for you.”  The girl started running towards her friend’s home and began using her cell phone to call her mother.  The male subject then ran north on Lakewood and out of sight of the victim. 

  The 11-year-old was not injured.  Deputies canvassed the neighborhood for a possible offender but did not locate anyone.  As is normal protocol, deputies are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness.  At this time they are unclear of what the intensions of the offender were.  The investigation into this incident remains active.

  The Sheriff’s Office is asking people in the neighborhood and surrounding areas to be vigilant when their families/children are outside.  If any homeowners have security video in that area that has not already been previewed by deputies, to please do so and contact us immediately with any information you may have.    If anyone sees anything suspicious, we ask that you contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office at 815-727-8575.     –end-

 The Will County Sheriff’s Office was notified yesterday morning, August 6^th, that an adult male, age 67, was missing from his home in the 210000 block of W. Empress Lane in Plainfield.

 Charles W. Sharp, Jr., left his home, without his cell phone, driving a light blue Honda CRV, 4-door, SUV bearing Illinois registration #TL1630.

Mr. Sharp’s wife reported that her husband left the house shortly after 6:30am while she was in another room of the house.  Mr. Sharp has been diagnosed with depression and had a 9am doctor’s appointment in Hinsdale.  He never arrived to that appointment.

Sharp is described as a male white, 5'6", 150 lbs. with grey hair and blue eyes. 

 As of today, there has been no activity on Mr. Sharp’s I-Pass transponder, nor any activity on his banking accounts or credit/debit cards.   

Anyone with any information is asked to call 911.   

Full story »

The Will County Sheriff’s Investigation Division is actively seeking four individuals who are suspected of being involved in an early morning home invasion at a residence located in the 25000 block of S. 80^th Avenue in Monee Township.  Yesterday, July 30, 2018, around 6am, an elderly female exited her master bedroom after she heard what she believed to be someone trying to open the front door of her home.  The woman’s elderly husband was still asleep at the time. When the woman entered the hallway, she was met by a male black subject with a hood over his head.  The subject was pointing a handgun at her and told her to “Give us your money and phones.”

The woman complied and turned over some cash, a wallet, one wireless phone, and her cell phone.   While she was gathering the items, she also observed three other male black subjects enter her residence and go into other areas of the house.  The subject then instructed the woman to go into her bedroom and not to come out.  Upon leaving the residence, the offenders stole the couples 2009 Ford Edge SUV.   The woman waited a few minutes and called the police with a phone that was not taken by the offenders.  The woman, nor her husband, were injured in the incident.   

When Sheriff’s deputies arrived they used cell phone GPS in an attempt to locate the offenders.    In a coordinated effort with Chicago Police Department, they were able to locate the stolen vehicle within an hour of it being stolen.  The vehicle was located on the 7100 block of Paulina in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago.  Along with that vehicle, Chicago Police and Will County detectives were able to locate two additional vehicles that had recently been stolen from Crete and Chicago.  All three vehicles were parked on the street in that neighborhood. 

With additional assistance from Chicago detectives, four potential suspects have been identified.  The Will County Sheriff’s Investigation Division continues to aggressively work this investigation. 

More information will be shared when details become available. 

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