Charges Reduced Against Joliet Cop Nick Crowley

JOLIET, IL - A Joliet patrol officer who has remained on paid leave from since his July arrest had his criminal charges reduced this week. On Thursday, a grand jury decided not to issue a criminal indictment against Officer Nick Crowley related to two pending misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and one misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property. The grand jury, however, did return indictments against Crowley on the two more serious offenses of reckless discharge of a firearm. Those charges are felonies.

"This case is definitely moving in the right direction," Crowley's defense attorney Jeff Tomczak told Joliet Patch on Friday afternoon. "The grand jury rejected the allegations of domestic battery. I appreciate the grand jury for taking a hard look at the evidence in this case and deciding the initial charges were inappropriate and without even probable cause."

Crowley, 37, is accused of firing his gun into a ceiling inside of his Joliet townhome on Mustang Drive that he shared with a female officer who also works at Joliet Police Department. Court records show that she was one of several witnesses who gave sworn testimony before the grand jury related to the case against Crowley.

The grand jury considered handing up charges alleging that Crowley damaged the woman's television set and that he struck her during the July 16 incident, but the panel rejected charges for those offenses.

Tomczak said he is confident Crowley will be acquitted when his case eventually goes to trial at the Will County Courthouse on the two remaining felonies. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

"We will now concentrate on vigorously defending this officer on the remaining charges and fully expect to be successful based on the circumstances of the case," Tomczak said. "The whole case involves whether he was acting in a reckless manner or a simple accident."

Joliet's police administration has not given a time frame for deciding Crowley's employment status.

"I'll leave it the judgment of the city, but I think he should be allowed to go back," Tomczak said Friday.

To read more of our past coverage:

• Joliet Cop Faces Multiple Felonies
• Nick Crowley Won't Be Booted Off Joliet's Police Force Anytime Soon
• Citing Conflict, Will County Won't Handle Prosecution Of Joliet Cop

Image via Will County Sheriff's Department