Citing Conflict, Will County Won't Handle Prosecution Of Joliet Cop Nick Crowley

JOLIET, IL - The Will County State's Attorney's Office will not be handling future criminal court proceedings against Joliet Police Officer Nick Crowley, who remains on indefinite paid leave. On Friday, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Fitzgerald cited a conflict of interest as the basis for seeking a special prosecutor to take over. Given Friday's turn of events in front of Will County Judge Carla Alessio-Policandriotes, Crowley's scheduled preliminary hearing did not take place.

Regarding the conflict of interest, "the defendant and the victim both are police officers who are witnesses on cases that we are prosecuting," said Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Office of Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow.

In all likelihood, the case will be handled by the Office of the State's Attorney Appellate Prosecutor based in Springfield, according to Crowley's defense lawyer, Jeff Tomczak of the Tomczak Law Group.

Afterward, Tomczak told Joliet Patch that the switch in prosecutors is important because, so far, Crowley has not been criminally indicted by a Will County grand jury. "This will allow us to present evidence that is favorable to Crowley that was not available at the time of his initial arrest," Tomczak said. "We're going request that the special prosecutor take this into consideration before they move on any additional charges."

Crowley, who turns 37 on Saturday, currently faces two felony crimes accusing him of reckless discharge of a firearm, two misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and a third misdemeanor accusing him of causing criminal damage to property. On Sunday, July 16, Crowley fired a gun into the ceiling of a townhouse that he shared with his girlfriend, who is also a police officer for Joliet. Crowley is also accused of striking the woman in the head and damaging a television inside of their townhouse.

Back on July 17, Crowley posted 10 percent of his $50,000 bond. He remains free as his court proceedings continue. Joliet officials said last month they did not have a timetable surrounding the status of Crowley's employment with the city. Last year, Crowley made about $96,000 as a city patrol officer. He joined the police department around January 2013.

Booking mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department