WCSO Press Releases

Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to announce the arrest of Jack L. Mecher (age 51) of Frankfort.  Mecher was charged with two counts of indecent solicitation of a child and one count of grooming.  Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant, in the amount of $250,000-10% to apply.

On 09/09/2020, Will County Sheriff’s Office Detectives met with the mother of a minor child who wished to report that her daughter was having an inappropriate sexting relationship with her former seventh grade teacher.  The mother stated that the teacher was Jack Mecher and he was a teacher at Summit Hill Junior High School.

The mother told detectives, that on 09/06/2020, her daughter disclosed to her that Jack Mecher had been having an inappropriate relationship with her daughter at Summit Hill Junior High School, in Mecher’s classroom.  Detectives began to conduct the investigation into the allegations, and a Forensic Interviewer at the Will County Child Advocacy Center later interviewed the minor child.

Meche was taken into custody during the early morning hours of 09/22/2020, prior to Mecher reporting for work as a teacher.  Detectives at the Will County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Complex questioned Mecher about the relationship and he made numerous statements to detectives which indicated that the outcry made by the victim was a valid complaint.  Jack Mecher is currently being housed at the Will County Adult Detention Facility, pending an initial court appearance.

Two men have been charged in the shooting that took place 9/11/2020 on Arthur Avenue in Lockport Township.  Jesse Tucker, age 24, of 1223 Ada Street in Joliet was charged with aggravated fleeing/eluding police, reckless driving, and possession of a controlled substance.  Tucker is being held at the Adult Detention Facility on a $1 million bond (10% to apply).  Tucker has multiple prior drug charges and has served time at IDOC. 

  Nevin McMurtry, age 18, of 300 Hickory Avenue in Romeoville was charged with possession of a controlled substance.  McMurtry is being held at the Adult Detention Facility.   His bond was set at $750,000 (10% to apply). 

Tucker and McMurtry were apprehended by Illinois State Police after the Durango that Tucker was driving, crashed at I355 and 163^rd Street after a high-speed chase that began on Arthur Avenue.  A search of the Durango was conducted where drugs were located.  The men were brought into the Sheriff’s Investigation Unit and were charged. 

 Two other individuals, who fled the Durango after the crash, were apprehended by the Lockport Police after they attempted to get away while running through the Willow Run Subdivision.  Both subjects were transported to the Sheriff’s Investigation Unit.  They were questioned by detectives, refused to cooperate, and were released without charges. 

 A fifth subject, whom police believe also fled from the Durango, remains at large. 

 This incident remains an open an active investigation.  The Will County Sheriff’s Office believes that additional arrests and charges will be forthcoming as the evidence and facts of this case are processed.    Updates will be provided when applicable.

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On 09/11/2020, at approximately 3:20 PM, deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 2100 block of Arthur Avenue in Unincorporated Lockport Township in reference to gunshots fired in the area.

Deputies were advised that a witness observed three different vehicles driving in the area, shooting at one another.  The witness described the vehicles as a Black Dodge Durango, a small black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), and a silver sedan.

A Will County Deputy who was in the area at the time, observed the Black Dodge Durango traveling at a high rate of speed and began to pursue.  The vehicle was traveling in excess of 100 mph in the residential neighborhood.  The Deputy lost site of the vehicle in the area of Farrell Road and Bruce Road.  The Lockport Police Department was contacted and notified of the vehicle’s last known direction of travel.

Officers of the Lockport Police Department were able to locate the black Dodge Durango traveling Northbound on Gouger Road approaching Route 6.  The vehicle proceeded onto Interstate 355, where members of the Lockport Police Department and the Illinois State Police began to follow the vehicle.

The vehicle crashed at Interstate 355 and 163^rd Street in Lockport.  Two suspects were subsequently taken into custody by members of the Illinois State Police at the scene of the crash.  Additional suspects fled on foot from the vehicle crash.  Neighborhood canvasses were conducted by members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office and the Lockport Police Department.  Officers with the Lockport Police Department were able to locate and take into custody two additional suspects during a canvass of a nearby neighborhood.

The four suspects were transported to the Will County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Complex for questioning.  Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office located a duffle bag in the area of the 16600 block of Watters Drive in Lockport that contained an AK-47 style pistol that was loaded with 7.62 rounds.

Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators conducted a canvass of the area and located numerous videos from residents placing the bag and the firearm in the hands of the suspects.  As of this writing, no one has been formally charged and this investigation is on going.  Additional information will be provided when appropriate. 

HOMER GLEN - Last night, 9/9/20, around 6:00pm, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle call from a resident in the Erin Hills Subdivision in Homer Glen.  Residents in Erin Hills stated that they observed a black BMW SUV on the street in front of their homes. Residents stated that the BMW had parked and they observed two male subjects attempting to gain entry into their vehicles.  The subjects were unsuccessful because the vehicles were locked.

 While on that call, deputies received a call regarding an aggravated carjacking that had just occurred at McDonald’s in Homer Glen, located at 14298 S. Bell Road. The vehicle description given by residents matched the description of the offending BMW in the carjacking call. 

 Upon arrival at McDonalds, deputies spoke to a 20-year-old male from Homer Glen.  He stated that after he had ordered his food at the menu board, he pulled up to the first window to pay.  It was at this time that a black BMW SUV pulled alongside his vehicle.  Two male/black subjects with handguns approached his vehicle.  One subject opened the front passenger door and jumped inside while pointing a gun at the victim and telling him to get out.  The victim exited his 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack and the subject crawled into the driver’s side.  The second subject then got into the passenger seat.  The Charger then sped out of the parking lot followed by the BMW. 

 Sheriff’s deputies issued an ISPERN to area police and around 1am, Illinois State Police located and pursued the Dodge Charger heading eastbound on I-80.  The pursuit was terminated because of excessive speeds and safety to other motorists.  Around 2:00am, Illinois State Police contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report that they had recovered the Dodge Charger in a neighborhood in Dolton.  The vehicle is currently being processed for evidence. The original license plates on the vehicle had been changed to dealer plates. 

 Initial reports indicate that the BMW has been reported stolen from the Gurnee area. Sheriff’s detectives have not recovered that vehicle and continue to investigate the incident in conjunction with the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force.   No one is in custody at this time. 

 The Will County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public if they can identify the offenders or have information pertaining to this incident to please call the Sheriff’s Investigation Unit at 815-727-8574 – Detective Strohm - extension 4930.   -end-

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On 09/01/2020, at approximately 8:43 PM, Deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Ingalls Park Food and Liquor (1822 E. Washington Street in Joliet), for a shots fired complaint.  Information relayed to deputies indicated that there was a subject inside of the store with a possible gunshot wound to the back.

Responding deputies of the Will County Sheriff’s Office located Zachary Stohr, age 29, on the floor of the business.  Zachary Stohr was transported to a local area hospital by members of the East Joliet Fire Department, where he was later pronounced deceased. 

Responding deputies also located a second victim, Xavier Mendoza, age 20 inside of a vehicle that was parked in a lot next to the business.  The victim appeared to have a gunshot wound to the head, and showed no signs life.  The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene to begin the investigation.  Autopsies for both victims are scheduled for later today at the Will County Coroner’s Office.  This investigation is in the early stages, and more information will be forthcoming when appropriate.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in helping to identify the suspects in this homicide investigation.  If anyone has information in regards to this death investigation case, the Will County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public to contact Detective Brian O’Leary at 815-727-8574 at extension 4957.  You can also leave anonymous tips on the Will County Sheriff’s website at www.willcosheriff.org/enforcement/submit-a-crime-tip.  You can also contact Will County Crime Stoppers by telephone at 800-323-6734, or by computer at www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org/submit-a-tip/.   

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the arrest of Connor P. Jones, age 23, of 14442 W. Renmore Road in Homer Glen for charges in connection with child pornography.

 On 12/17/2019, the Sheriff’s Investigations Unit received a cyber-tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in regards to possible child pornography being uploaded and shared via a popular cloud based storage/sharing app.  In January, search warrants were secured to begin a thorough investigation of the IP address and owner connected to the storage app account.

 Early this month, Connor P. Jones was interviewed by Sheriff’s detectives as the owner of the IP address that had numerous child pornography photos downloaded and shared.  During that interview, Jones made statements implicating himself.  Further electronic devices were secured at the time of the interview and forensic analysis of those devices have been completed. 

 On July 22, 2020, a warrant for Jones’ arrest was secured for four class 2 felony counts of child pornography.  Bond was set for $250,000 (10% to apply). Connor P. Jones turned himself in yesterday and bonded out.