75-Day Unpaid Suspension For Joliet Cop In High-Speed Chase, Crash

JOLIET — In a drastic punishment imposed by Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans, Joliet patrol officer Alfonso Sanchez was given a 75-day (600 work hour) unpaid work suspension, and he must undergo additional training. The punishment resulted after the internal affairs investigation was conducted related to Officer Sanchez's role in January's high-speed chase of fleeing defendant Mohammed Nakhleh.

The 31-year-old Nakhleh, of Plainfield, crashed into another couple's vehicle near the Interstate 55 on-ramp by the Louis Joliet Mall, seriously injuring a 26-year-old Villa Park man and the 25-year-old Plainfield woman who was his passenger.

75 Days Of Unpaid Suspension Announced

Prior to publication, Joliet Patch contacted Joliet Police Spokesman Dwayne English with several questions in regard to the 75-day unpaid work suspension for Sanchez. One of the questions surrounded whether Officer Sanchez had a valid Illinois driver's license at the time of the high-speed chase — it turns out, he did not, Joliet police confirmed.

This month marks Sanchez's second anniversary on the Joliet police force. In June 2022, the Collins Street Neighborhood Council posted several photos on Facebook of his introduction and swearing-in ceremony, "Congratulations to our very own Alfonso Sanchez, son of Vice-President Amy Sanchez, who has officially become Joliet Police Officer Sanchez!! We are extremely proud of you and your dedication to the community. We wish you the best of luck in your career."

"At the time when Officer Sanchez engaged in the January 7th pursuit of the fleeing vehicle of Mohammad Nakhleh, other on-duty JPD officers had received notice over dispatch that the pursuit was being terminated, is that correct?" Joliet Patch inquired.

"Yes, it is believed that notice had been given to terminate the pursuit," Sgt. English responded. "Officer Sanchez was found to have a license that was not valid at the time of the incident. Officer Sanchez received a 75-day suspension without pay following an administrative review, and this admonishment will remain in effect."

Patch learned that Officer Sanchez has returned to active duty as a nighttime patrol officer and that he was working various shifts last week.

"Officers who receive suspension days are generally afforded an opportunity to serve the days over a period of time," English pointed out.

As for the 75-day suspension, "It is important that our members are held accountable for their actions as it informs the legitimacy of our agency as well as the safety of the community," English explained.

According to the internal affairs reports obtained by Joliet Patch, Officer Sanchez was found to have violated several Joliet Police Department rules including the code of conduct.

"Conduct unbecoming of Department members shall not be tolerated," the memo said. "This shall include any conduct which adversely affects the morale, operations, or efficiency of the department or any conduct which has a tendency to adversely affect, lower, or destroy public respect and confidence in the department, or any department member. Conduct unbecoming also includes any act or conduct which brings disrepute or discredit upon the department, or the department member. Department members shall conduct themselves at all times, both on and off duty, in such a manner so as to reflect most favorably on the department."

Sanchez violated his department's general order regarding department vehicles: "Members must have, in their possession, a valid Illinois driver's license when operating a Department vehicle. If a member's license is expired, suspended, or revoked, he will, at the start of his next tour of duty after becoming aware of the suspension or revocation, submit a report on an interoffice memorandum through the chain of command to his respective deputy chief citing the circumstances of the loss of the license and specify the duration."

Sanchez violated his department's general order regarding emergency and pursuit driving, notably the responsibilities of the officer initiating a pursuit, according to the memo.

"A sworn member will initiate pursuit only when a driver refuses to stop after having been signaled to do so by a police officer using emergency red lights and/or siren. The pursuing officer must then: A. Activate the vehicle's emergency lights and siren.

"B. Immediately notify the Communications Center of the pursuit and give pertinent facts concerning pursuit location, direction of travel, reason for pursuit, and as complete a description as possible of the vehicle and its occupants.

"C. Keep the Communications Center informed of the direction and progress of the pursuit."

Sanchez violated the pursuit policy regarding "offensive tactics." The internal affairs violation indicated that "During the pursuit, deliberate contact between vehicles or forcing the fleeing vehicle into parked cars, ditches, or any other obstacle boxing in, heading off, ramming, or driving alongside the fleeing vehicle is only permissible as a last resort to prevent an immediate threat of death or great bodily harm to innocent persons."

3-Day Work Suspension In 2023

Following a series of Freedom of Information Act requests to the Joliet Police Department, Joliet Patch has obtained multiple records of internal affairs investigations of Sanchez that resulted in discipline.

In 2023, Sanchez received three days of unpaid suspension as a result of his off-duty conduct last July while riding a motorcycle in rural Kendall County.

On Sept. 21, Joliet Police Sgt. Brian Prochaska outlined in his internal affairs complaint that on July 8, 2023, at approximately 5:45 p.m., "you operated a motorcycle on Route 47 near Newark Road without registration, insurance, and motorcycle license classification. Additionally, you operated the motorcycle in excess of the applicable speed limit and failed to yield to an emergency vehicle."

However, the allegation that Sanchez failed to yield to an emergency vehicle was found to be unsustained, according to Sgt. Prochaska's investigation.

Sanchez learned he had violated various aspects of the Joliet police code of conduct and, more specifically, four aspects of Illinois vehicle code:

• No person may drive a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than the applicable statutory maximum speed limit.
• Operation of vehicles without evidence of registration. (a) No person shall operate a vehicle upon any highway unless there shall be attached thereto and displayed thereon when and as required by law, proper evidence of registration in lllinois.
• Drivers must have valid licenses. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle unless such person has a valid license with proper classification to permit the operation of such vehicle.
• Operation of uninsured motor vehicle. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle in this State unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy.

Defendant Freed Under The SAFE-T-Act

Nakhleh faces 10 charges including aggravated fleeing: 21 mph or greater over the speed limit, two counts of aggravated battery causing bodily injury, aggravated fleeing causing criminal damage to property, aggravated fleeing of two or more traffic control devices, felon in possession of a weapon, possession of controlled substances, illegal possession of ammunition, driving on a revoked license and unlawful possession of marijuana by the driver.

Nakhleh spent one month in Will County's Jail until he was released on Feb. 8 after his criminal defense lawyer Peter Soukaras from Chicago won a SAFE-T-Act pretrial detention hearing. Nakhleh has been placed on electronic monitoring and ordered not to leave his house unless it's to meet with his lawyer or for emergency medical attention.

Nakhleh lives in the Plainfield area, in the 2300 block of Irvine Lane, court records show.

The defendant's lawyer has been focused on substituting judges, and a hearing in Courtroom 501 of Will County Judge Sarah Jones is set for June 11.