WCSO Press Releases

   8/11/23 at 6:13am, Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence in the 29000 block of S. Center Road, Peotone Township, for a barn that was burglarized.   While deputies were heading to the residence, they were advised that a witness was following two suspicious subjects who had just left the property, one driving a pickup truck and one driving a Polaris Ranger ATV.  As the subjects continued to drive, the witness continued following them until deputies crossed their path at Harlem and Bruns, Green Garden Township.   The subjects were stopped and taken into custody.    

   The subjects were identified as Anthony Peters, age 37, of 1129 Schilling in Chicago Heights                 and Jeremy Peters, age 36, of 8148 Keating Avenue in Skokie.   

   Upon the search of the offenders, Jeremy Peters was found to have a loaded handgun with the identifiers filed off.  Both subjects were transported to the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit where they were charged with:

Anthony Peters:  Burglary

Jeremy Peters:  Armed Habitual Felon, Defacing a firearm, Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, Possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Possession of ammunition by a felon, Burglary, Armed Violence, Theft over $500, Criminal damage to property, Expired driver’s license, and Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon no FOID card. 

   The homeowners stated that the suspects broke into the barn and stole a ring camera, gun safe with various handguns and shotguns inside, a Gator utility vehicle, a flatbed trailer, the Polaris Ranger ATV, and several tools.  Preliminary evidence shows that the offenders came to the property and initially stole the trailer, Gator, and gun safe.  Within an hour or two, they returned to the property and stole the Polaris and tools.   The offenders also slashed the rear tire of the homeowner’s truck that was parked near the barn.

  At this time the Polaris and the tools have been returned to the owner.  Sheriff’s deputies and detectives continue to investigate this robbery and are searching for the other stolen items.  Additional charges may be forthcoming.

  The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the good Samaritan witness who “saw something and said something”.  This witness was vital to the Sheriff’s ongoing investigations for who may be responsible for the burglaries that have been occurring in eastern Will County townships.

  It should be noted that an enclosed trailer was reported stolen from Jason Drive in Monee Township around the same time deputies were called to the Center Street burglary.  Deputies are currently investigating that burglary as well. 

  Any additional information or updates will be released when appropriate. 

(First photo:  Jeremy Peters with almost no hair       Second photo:  Anthony Peters with long hair)

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EASTERN WILL COUNTY TOWNSHIPS - BE ADVISED

   This morning, 8/7/23 at 3:50am, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unknown dark colored Silverado parked in a driveway on the 28000 block of S. 80^th Avenue in Peotone Township.  The caller/homeowners advised they observed two male subjects near the side of their residence and exchanged one round of gunfire with one of the subjects.  The two subjects then drove off in the Silverado. No one was injured. The homeowner also advised that an unknown, unoccupied, Volkswagen SUV was parked near his barn in the backyard.  Deputies observed a window broken out of the vehicle with gasoline poured throughout the inside. The homeowner believes that it was at the time of the gunfire exchange that stopped the suspects from lighting the vehicle on fire.  It was later determined that the Volkswagen SUV had been stolen out of Skokie.

   The Will County Sheriff’s Office put out a 2-mile radius reverse 911 call to area residents warning them to shelter in place while deputies combed the area for the suspects.  Sheriff’s deputies and K-9 Units located the Silverado on the 8000 block of W. Offner Road.  Once it was determined that the subjects had left the area, the 911 alert was cancelled.  Sheriff’s deputies remain in the area investigating the incident.

    During this investigation and several prior motor vehicle thefts reported within the last few weeks, specifically in Wilton, Peotone, Green Garden, and Monee Townships, it has come to our attention that many witnesses have not come forward with information after they have observed suspicious people and vehicles in their neighborhoods.  While our deputies comb neighborhoods for video surveillance or any additional information in order to catch the vehicle thieves, we have become aware that an abundance of information has not been reported that would be extremely helpful in the investigations.

   We are urging residents:  IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!

Please assist our deputies by calling 911, submitting a crime tip at www.willcosheriff.org, or contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734 or crimestoppersofwillcounty.org.  (You may remain anonymous when submitting.) 

   Sheriff’s deputies believe that the vehicle thieves are familiar with the area and are targeting the eastern area of Will County. Most of the vehicles stolen have occurred in the overnight hours, however a vehicle was stolen out of an open garage in Peotone in the middle of the day while the residents were home.  This type of crime is considered a “crime of opportunity”.  Please take the extra few seconds to LOCK YOUR VEHICLES AT ALL TIMES.  Leaving your vehicle unlocked is an open invitation for these criminals. 

   (10:15am)  The Will County Sheriff's Office is at the scene of an explosion that has occurred within the past 40 minutes at Seneca Petroleum, located at 12640 S. New Avenue in Lemont.  One person is confirmed deceased and a second individual has been transported to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet.  Multiple fire emergency personnel responded to the scene and at this time have controlled the fire.  Initial reports indicate that the explosion may be from an asphalt tank.  Fire personnel do not believe that any type of hazmat situation has occurred and there is no danger to the public.   OSHA has been called to the scene, as well as ComEd.  The explosion caused some power lines to come down.    

   The Sheriff's Office will update information throughout the day if additional information unfolds. 

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   Will County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on the 1600 block of Fairmount Avenue in Lockport on Friday, October 14, 2022, around 8:23pm.    Deputies were advised that multiple shots had been fired and two individuals had been struck outside the residence while sitting in a vehicle.

    Upon arrival, deputies immediately began providing medical aid to two male subjects who were located outside the vehicle.  One subject, age 36, a resident of the home located on Fairmount, suffered gunshot wounds to his face, hand, and leg.  The second subject, age 34, of Lockport, suffered gunshot wounds to his back.  Lockport Township Fire personnel arrived on scene and transported both victims to Silver Cross where they were stabilized but in critical condition.  Both victims were later transported to Chicago hospitals for further treatment. Both remain in critical condition.

    Information gathered from the victims at the scene and other area neighbors was that the two victims had been inside the residence and went to leave in their vehicle when unknown subjects approached the vehicle from behind and began firing weapons directly into the vehicle.  A total of 33 shell casings from different types of firearms were found on scene.  It is believed that the offenders were on foot and no identifying information has been gathered. 

    Investigators have been canvassing the neighborhood and surrounding area to collect video surveillance footage and gather additional information.  The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to assist them with sharing any information that you may know regarding this shooting.  You can call the Sheriff’s Investigation Unit at 815-727-8574 ext: 4965 or go to the Sheriff’s website at www.willcosheriff.org and click on “Submit A Crime Tip”. 

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Troy Fire Protection District

Troy Fire Chief Andrew Doyle

815-725-2149

Troy Fire Protection District responded to a fire at Tri-County Stockdale, a farm equipment store, after a 911 call was received at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 19.

Four of the six buildings at Tri-County Stockdale, 25520 West Black Road in Shorewood, were destroyed by the fire. The buildings stored fertilizer, pesticides, seed, feed, and other agricultural products that produced a toxic smoke when they burned.

A shelter-in-place order was put in place around 7 a.m. for a 2-mile radius northeast of the fire because of the smoke. The order was lifted around 8 a.m., but residents with respirator issues should call 911 if they experience breathing difficulties.

The fire is under control at this time and fire personnel will remain on scene monitoring the situation throughout the night.

No one was injured and no one was at the business when the fire began. Chickens and two exotic birds that were in the building were rescued by emergency personnel.

Troy Fire was assisted by 15 fire departments and around 60 firefighters. Water tenders, or tankers, were called to the scene to provide more water than the fire hydrant could provide.

The structures that burned are considered pole buildings and heavy equipment is being brought to the site to lift the metal pieces off the remaining hot spots.   

Black Road, between County Line and River Road, remains closed at this time as water continues to be shuttled to the site. Avoid the area. 

Air quality will continue to be monitored throughout the next few days.

Fire investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are also on the scene but may not be able to enter into the buildings for some time to determine the cause of the fire.

Tri-County Stockdale’s managers are being interviewed at this time, but no cause for the fire has been determined.

  The Will County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of a tragic three-vehicle accident last evening, June 21, around 5:30pm.  The accident occurred on 143^rd Street, just west of Hillcrest Road in Homer Glen.  Northwest Homer Fire, Homer Fire, and Lemont Fire personnel were on scene to assist the seven people who were involved in the accident and were suffering from multiple injuries. 

   Throughout the evening, Sheriff’s Traffic Investigators reconstructed the accident.  Preliminary reports indicate that the driver of a Nissan SUV, Chris Haramija, age 37, of Joliet, was traveling westbound when he went into oncoming traffic.  The Nissan struck a Lincoln SUV, driven by a 55-year-old male who refused medical treatment at the scene.  The Nissan then struck a Hyundai head on causing the engine compartment to catch fire and engulf into flames.  The Hyundai was driven by a 49-year-old female who suffered extensive injuries. She was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.  Medical staff advised that she would be transferred to a Chicago hospital for further treatment.    She was traveling with a front seat passenger, a 77-year-old male, who was transported to Silver Cross and succumbed to his injuries.  A second passenger, riding in the back seat, also succumbed to her injuries at the scene.  She was 73 years old.   The three were family members and were from Orland Park. 

 Haramija was transported to an area hospital with multiple injuries.  He was cited for improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and transportation of open alcohol.   His front seat passenger, a male, age 41, suffered extensive injuries and was listed in critical condition.   The rear seat passenger, a male, age 33, was transported to an area hospital with multiple injuries.  Medical staff advised he was in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.  

This incident remains an open investigation.  

The Will County Coroner will be releasing the names of the deceased when appropriate. 

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