WCSO Press Releases

Sheriff Kelley would like to announce the arrest of Jason Stevens Jr. (age 26) of Joliet for attempted murder, resisting/obstructing a police officer, armed violence, aggravated possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance, aggravated battery, reckless conduct, and a parole violation.

On 09/30/2020, at approximately 4:53 AM, Deputies from the Will County Sheriff’s Office were in the area of the 1100 block of Parkwood Drive in Joliet, following up on an incident that had occurred one hour prior.  Earlier that morning, a Will County Deputy had attempted to make a traffic stop on a black Pontiac Grand Am on the Westside of Joliet.  The vehicle had fled from the traffic stop and deputies were attempting to locate the vehicle and suspect from the earlier incident.

Deputies located the suspect's vehicle in an apartment parking lot, and observed a Black Male subject that fit the description of the registered owner, next to the vehicle.  The Will County Deputy announced himself and the suspect began to run from the deputy attempting to flee.  While running, the Stevens discharged the firearm, one time in the direction of the Will County Deputy.  Upon firing the weapon in close proximity of the deputy, Stevens fell to the ground.  The deputy attempted to gain control of the assaultive suspect’s wrists and firearm.  While the deputy was attempting to gain control of the Stevens' firearm, another shot was fired by Stevens in close proximity of the Will County Deputy.

Stevens then began to bite the deputy’s hands, wrists, and arms in an attempt to gain control of the firearm and defeat the arrest.  Another Will County Deputy who was in the area assisting in the investigation heard the gunshots and assisted in taking Stevens into custody without further incident.  The firearm, along with other items of evidentiary value were recovered at the scene.

When interviewed by detectives, Stevens made numerous incriminating statements in regards to the incident.  The deputy involved in this incident was treated and released from a local area hospital for minor injuries.  Jason Stevens is currently incarcerated at the Will County Adult Detention Facility awaiting a bond hearing.

 Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is pleased to announce that the Sheriff’s Office will be adding a seventh dog to its specialized K9 Unit.  The Sheriff’s Office currently has five narcotics dogs, one explosive detection dog and as of 9/21/20, “Liz” has joined the team.  K9 Elizabeth “Liz” a scent discriminate bloodhound, is 10-months old, and is in the process of completing her training to locate a missing person by using the individual’s unique scent. Will County purchased K9 Liz from Tallahassee-based Scent Evidence K9 when she was only 3-months old and the Sheriff’s Office has been following her training progress since then.  When Liz reported for duty on Monday, she met her new handler, Sheriff’s Deputy Marty Stortz and Sergeant Jeff Pogose.   

 Sheriff Mike Kelley stated, “Our K9 Unit is a vital part of our department.  The dogs are specifically trained to assist our officers with tools that cannot be matched by humans. The addition of Liz is a win-win situation.  It allows families and caregivers to be better prepared in the event that a loved one goes missing and it assists our deputies when every second matters, in expediting search and recovery assignments.  We are very excited to have Liz on board to assist with our at-risk residents in Will County.”

 The Scent Evidence Preservation kits that are used by Liz provide a way for families and caregivers to pre-collect a scent article from an individual and store it in case a person goes missing. Once the kit is completed, it is kept at the home or facility where the at-risk individual resides and remains effective for up to 10 years.  Founder and CEO of Scent Evidence K9, Paul Coley, stated, “We call our kits, ‘peace of mind in a jar’. As a former FBI Forensic Canine Operations Specialist and canine handler, I was constantly faced with the challenge of finding an effective scent article during active searches. The preservation kits have served that need.”

 Liz was named in honor of Elizabeth Smart who is a survivor and child safety advocate.  Smart gained national attention when she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City at age 14 and was held for nine months with her captors in the wilderness of Utah.   The Elizabeth Smart Foundation, located in Utah, has collaborated with Scent Evidence K9 on several projects to help promote more effective search response methods in missing person cases.

 Preservation kits will be distributed to at-risk adults and juveniles who reside in Will County.  If a deputy encounters someone while on-duty who may benefit from a kit, the deputy will inform the family/caregiver, suggest that one be completed, and provide the kit to the family.     Family members may also come into the Will County Sheriff’s Office at 16911 W. Laraway Road in Joliet, during business hours, to request a kit or call the Sheriff’s Office at 815-727-4736 to leave a request message.  A deputy will then arrange for the family member to receive one.  Preservation kits will only be distributed to individuals whose family member is deemed vulnerable due to their current medical/mental state of mind.         

 Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to extend a special Thank You to the Crete Township F-Men for bringing his attention to this valued business, Scent Evidence K9’s, in order to enhance the Sheriff’s Office. 

 Visit the Sheriff’s website for information on how to request a preservation kit:  www.willcosheriff.org

 For additional information, please visit:  www.scentevidencek9.com

 Informational:

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) have an increased tendency to wander and become lost. Children with autism are also at high risk to wander and go missing. The Alzheimer’s Association states that 60% or 3 in 5 people with Alzheimer’s or dementia will wander.  The American Pediatric Association states that almost 50% of children with autism will wander and go missing at least once before the age of 17.

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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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