5 Violent Crimes Solved By Joliet Police In Recent Months

JOLIET, IL - As many residents are aware, 2017 was not a banner year for the Joliet Police Department, especially when it came to solving homicides and other violent crimes. But in recent months, Joliet Police's investigative division has cleared a number of violent crimes in quick fashion. The most recent example occurred last Wednesday when an arrest was made in connection with the early morning deadly shooting in the Cumberland South subdivision in the 6800 block of Hadrian Drive.

Here's a rundown of five violent crimes in the city of Joliet that led to a quick arrest by the Joliet Police Department in recent months.

1. JACOB MEGRANT, 19,
Faces a dozen felony charges in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Alexander Perez of Lockport inside of Megrant's family home, 6800 block of Hadrian Drive, Joliet. Megrant was arrested around 6 a.m., which is nearly five hours after the deadly shooting.

According to court testimony, the Illinois State Police spotted him around Bloomington-Normal. Megrant had three guns in his car with him besides the cocaine:

• 1 Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun
• 1 Kimber 345 auto handgun
• 1 .38 special Interarms Revolver

"He wouldn't tell us where he was going," Interim Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner told Joliet Patch. "He was just getting away from the situation as far as he could."

ORIGINAL STORY: $2 Million Bail Set For Gang Member Charged In Gun Death: Judge

2. MICHAEL KAZECKI, 38, Joliet
Faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the beating death of his wife, Rebecca "Becky"' Kazecki. The couple were both employed as public school teachers with District 86.

Roechner recently singled out two Joliet detectives, David Jackson and Aaron Bandy, for outstanding work on uncovering the facts in the homicide of the Joliet school teacher. "They did an awesome job getting the facts and keeping their composure ... they're great at it."

Roechner said when Joliet Police were initially summoned to the home on McDonough Street, the husband portrayed the incident as "an alcohol poisoning" or "that she had passed out."

ORIGINAL STORY: Wife Dies, Husband Jailed: Joliet Police

3. ALONZO GADSON, 37, formerly of Joliet

In late June, three men in their 30s, two from Crest Hill and one from New Lenox, all were shot late at night on a weekend in the parking lot of Eden's Bar and Grill, the bar in the 900 block of Joliet's Gardner Street near Nowell Park. Less than a week later, Joliet Police arrested Alonzo Gadson, a Joliet man with a long criminal rap sheet. Gadson is accused of pulling out a gun and fired bullets into the mouth of one man, shooting a second man in the back and shooting a third man in the knee, before running off and going into hiding.

Original Story: Captured: Gadson Faces 3 Attempted Murder Charges

4. Joliet Juvenile, Age 14

On Friday afternoon, Aug. 24, Joliet Police cars responded to a street fight on Casseday Avenue near Cass Street. By the time, police arrived, the crowd scattered and a 20-year-old Rockdale man was shot in the neck and his thigh. Within a few days, Joliet Police announced that a 14-year-old juvenile was captured and taken to the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center in connection with the shooting.

STORY: Boy, 14, Charged In East-Side Shooting

5. Martell Ollie, 23, Joliet resident

In late May, the Joliet Police Department announced the arrest of 23-year-old Martell Ollie, who lives in the 1200 block of Joliet's Nicholson Street, in the killing of Donald M. Woods Jr. The shooting of the 24-year-old Romeoville resident occurred during broad daylight three days earlier, around 4 p.m in the 200 block of Fourth Avenue near Sherman Street.

STORY: Ollie Arrested In Joliet Murder Of Romeoville Man

Main image Alonzo Gadson via Will County Sheriff