WCSO Press Releases

During three traffic stops, Sheriff’s deputies arrested three out-of-state residents who were involved in transporting large amounts of THC in unincorporated Will County.

 On Friday, December 20, deputies made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was speeding and changing lanes without using a signal. Deputies spoke to the driver, Aubrey Honeycutt, age 32, of 12921 Mallard Road in Thompsonville, Michigan, and probable cause for a vehicle search was determined.  Additional deputies arrived, along with K9 partner, Malice, who positively alerted to the vehicle. The search revealed nine vacuum-sealed bags containing 20,989.4 grams of THC wax and one vacuum-sealed bag containing ten cannabis joints in a duffel bag.  Also located was three THC cartridges, two THC vape pens, 2 grams of cannabis.  Honeycutt was transported to the Will County Sheriff’s Office Adult Detention Facility on charges of delivery/manufacture of cannabis over 10 grams and possession of cannabis over 100 grams, improper lane usage, speeding, and improper passing.

 While deputies were performing their search of Honeycutt’s vehicle, a deputy observed a suspicious vehicle who had been driving erratically in the area prior to Honeycutt’s traffic stop.  Deputies conducted a traffic stop on I-80, near Chicago St.   While speaking to the driver Taleesun Luckett-Baker, age 24, of 14550 Takilma Road in Cave Junction, Oregon it was determined that he was involved with Honeycutt and the transportation of the drugs. Luckett-Baker was taken into custody and charged with possession of cannabis over 100 grams, delivery/manufacture of cannabis over 10 grams, improper lane usage and following too closely. 

 Honeycutt and Luckett-Baker appeared in bond court where they each received $100,000.00 bond (10% to apply).   They both posted bond in the afternoon of December 21, 2019. 

 On Saturday, December 21, deputies were near Houbolt Road in Joliet Township when they observed a speeding vehicle with an obstructed registration plate.  Deputies initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Ali Alkhreisha, age 21, of 15527 Woodruff Avenue in Bellflower, California and an adult male passenger.  While questioning Alkhreisha, deputies developed probable cause to search his vehicle.  Sheriff’s deputies, along with K-9 partner, Malice, conducted a search.  Malice positively alerted to the vehicle where cardboard boxes containing 31 mason jars with 48,732 grams of THC Oil was found.  47 grams of cannabis and a THC vape pen was also located.  Ali Alkhreisha was arrested for driving while license suspended, delivery/manufacture of cannabis over 30 grams, possession of cannabis over 5000 grams.   He will appear in bond court today.   The passenger was released at the scene. 

 *Photos attached (5 total) - #1: THC wax with K9, Malice #2: Aubrey Honeycutt   

#3: Taleesun Luckett Baker   #4: THC Oil #5: Ali Alkhreisha

-END-

Full story »

 Will County Sheriff's Office                                         Frankfort Police Department

Sheriff Mike Kelley                                          Police Chief John Burica    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 December 18, 2019

 Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley and Frankfort Police Chief John Burica are announcing the arrest of three men who are responsible for the abduction of a female victim on November 16, 2019 in Frankfort and a male victim on November 29, 2019 in New Lenox Township.   A warrant was issued yesterday for the arrest of:

 Subject #1:   Justin A. Brown, age 20, of 312 West 34^th Street in Steger

          Charged with:  Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery and Armed Robbery

 Subject #2:   Dontavious A. Harvey, age 20, of 14341 Drexel in Dolton

          Charged with:  Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery and Armed Robbery

 Subject #3:   Terwon Matthews, age 20, of 11355 South Forest Avenue in Chicago

           Charged with:  Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery and Armed Robbery

 The three offenders were picked up this morning by the U.S. Marshalls, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance of the Chicago Police Department, and are in custody at the Will County Adult Detention Facility.  They are being held on $2,000,000.00 bond (10% to apply). 

 Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and Frankfort Police, along with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service,   worked collectively in bringing these men to justice.   With the help of crime tips, video surveillance, and technology, the offenders were identified early on in the investigation.  The evidence collected placed the offenders at the scene of the stores in which both victims had their financial accounts violated.

 Sheriff Mike Kelley and Police Chief John Burica would like to thank the detectives who worked extremely hard and demonstrated a high degree of perseverance in arresting these offenders.  

 Contact Person:                                                                       Contact Person:

    Will County Sheriff’s Office                                                   Frankfort Police Department

     Kathy Hoffmeyer, Public Information Officer                       Deputy Chief Kevin Keegan

     815-727-5681                                                                         815-469-9435  

Photos Attached:   1st photo:  Justin A. Brown

                               2nd photo:  Dontavious A. Harvey

                              3rd photo:   Terwon Matthews

-end-                                          

Full story »

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)

-end-

Full story »

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 

 -end-

Full story »

   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.