WCSO Press Releases

On 06/03/2019, at approximately 10:25 AM, deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 26000 of South Klemme Road in Unincorporated Create Township in reference to a welfare check. 

The relative that had contacted the Sheriff’s Office had advised that the residents had not shown up to work, and were not picking up their phones.  Deputies were provided access to the residence by a family member.  Upon deputies making entry into the attached garage, deputies located a female victim, age 59, inside of a vehicle. 

The female victim advised deputies that her husband was in the trunk of the vehicle.  The female victim was transported to a local area hospital and is in stable condition.  The male victim, age 63, was pronounced deceased on the scene. 

The female victim stated that two masked males entered her residence the previous evening for the purposes of robbing the victims. 

This is an active death investigation, that is in its early stages.  When appropriate, the Will County Sheriff’s Office will put out additional information.   

On Monday, May 27, 2019 at approximately 4:10 AM, the Joliet Police Department Dispatch Center received a call from a third-party stating that a domestic battery was in progress on the 1200 block of Justice Lake Drive in the City of Joliet.  Joliet Police Officers responded, and observed the residence on fire.  

Entry was made into the residence, and officers were confronted with a hostage situation.  The offender was armed with a handgun, and officers were fired upon by the offender.  During the course of the incident, an officer fired at the offender.  Three officers were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The offender was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the victim was transported to Silver Cross Hospital.  The identities of all parties involved are not being released at this time, pending notification of the family.  The Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident, and further information will be forthcoming when appropriate.

Members that responded to this incident from the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task consisted of police officers from the following agencies:  Bolingbrook Police Department, Channahon Police Department, Coal City Police Department, Lockport Police Department, Morris Police Department, Naperville Police Department, New Lenox Police Department, Romeoville Police Department, Shorewood Police Department, and the Will County Sheriff’s Office.     

On Monday, May 27, 2019 at approximately 4:10 AM, the Joliet Police Department Dispatch Center received a call from a third-party stating that a domestic battery was in progress on the 1200 block of Justice Lake Drive in the City of Joliet.  Joliet Police Officers responded to the scene, and observed the residence on fire.  

Entry was made into the residence, and officers were confronted with a hostage situation.  The offender was armed with a handgun, and officers were fired upon by the offender.  During the course of the incident, an officer fired at the offender.  Three officers were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The offender was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the victim was transported to Silver Cross Hospital.  The identities of all parties involved are not being released at this time, pending notification to the family.  The Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident, and further information will be forthcoming when appropriate.

Members that responded to this incident from the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task consisted of police officers from the following agencies:  Bolingbrook Police Department, Channahon Police Department, Coal City Police Department, Lockport Police Department, Morris Police Department, Naperville Police Department, New Lenox Police Department, Romeoville Police Department, Shorewood Police Department, and the Will County Sheriff’s Office.     

For Immediate Release
Friday, May 3^rd, 2019

For More Information contact:
WCSO Traffic Division
815-727-3263

Will County Sheriff’s Department to Participate in Regional Route 59 Traffic Safety Initiative on Thursday

Will County, Ill. — On Thursday, May 9, 2019, the Will County Sheriff’s Department will join with numerous police agencies in northern Illinois to conduct a traffic safety initiative along the Route 59 corridor.

 From Lake County to Will County, participating agencies will use education and traffic enforcement in an effort to increase the safety of motorists using the thoroughfare. Will County Sheriff’s Departments efforts will concentrate on speed, distracted driving and occupant restraint violations as well as other safety violations. 

The following departments are expected to participate in the initiative: Naperville Police Department, Warrenville Police Department, Plainfield Police Department, Streamwood Police Department, Shorewood Police Department, Joliet Police Department, Wauconda Police Department, Will County Sheriff’s Department, and Cook County among others. Each jurisdiction will implement their own enforcement action based upon the needs of their communities.

The Will County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind all motorists to always drive safely by using proper restraints, following the rules of the road and avoiding distraction.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the capture and arrest of Dieontae Ricky Sparks, age 19, of Plainfield.  Dieontae Ricky Sparks was arrested on May 2, 2019 in Atlanta, GA by members of the United States Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. 

Sparks possesses a criminal history that includes arrests for weapons, robbery, and assault.  Sparks was wanted by the Romeoville Police Department in relation to a homicide that occurred on March 30, 2019.  Sparks was alleged to have been present during a homicide where the victim was shot at close range with a sawed off shotgun.  Romeoville Police obtained an arrest warrant for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon after recovering at Sparks’ residence, what is believed to be the murder weapon.  Sparks also had an active warrant for robbery and aggravated battery.    

On April 1, 2019, the Romeoville Police Department requested the assistance of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF) in locating and apprehending Sparks.

Will County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Deputies, who are also assigned to the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, worked in conjunction with Romeoville Police for weeks to locate Sparks, who was aware of the warrant and believed to have fled Illinois.

A location was developed for Sparks in Atlanta, Georgia, and information was passed to the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force.  Investigators surveilled the house for days prior, and on May 2, 2019 approached the residence.  Sparks attempted to flee the residence, but was safely apprehended without further incident.  Sparks is currently housed in DeKalb County Jail in Decatur Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, where he awaits extradition proceedings.  Upon return to Illinois, Sparks is to then face murder charges.

The photograph of Sparks provided is from a 2018 arrest. 

The Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing the capture and arrest of Mark Anthony Love, age 40, of Joliet. Mark Anthony Love was arrested on April 23, 2019 by members of the United States Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force who consist of the Sheriff's Office Warrant Division. Love possesses a criminal history that includes arrests for sexual assault and obstructing justice and is a documented gang member. He was wanted by the Will County Sheriff's Office for failure to annually report as a sex offender and violation of the sex offender registry act (for the second time). Love is required to register pursuant to an Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault conviction in Cook County in 1997 and has been sentenced previously to the Illinois Department of Corrections for failing to register.

This warrant has been an active original warrant since 2017 when Love disappeared from the Joliet area. On April 11, 2019 the Fugitive Task Force received information on his whereabouts and on April 23rd, with assistance from the United States Marshals Technical Operations Group, a location was developed in DeKalb, Illinois. Investigators set up surveillance where Love was then taken into custody.

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