Joliet Officer Stabbed In Stomach During Arrest

JOLIET, IL — A female Joliet police officer suffered a stab wound during an overnight arrest of 42-year-old Francisco Alvarez of Glendale Heights on the city's west side, according to Joliet police chief Bill Evans.

“This morning was another example of how increasingly dangerous a police officer’s job is," Evans announced. "Our officers had only milliseconds to respond to this life-threatening situation. I commend my officers for their attempts at de-escalating the incident and their quick reaction to this dangerous threat.”

As for Alvarez, he's now under police guard at Silver Cross Hospital for attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery to a peace officer.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English:

• Around 4 a.m., officers were sent to a residence in the 500 block of Bevan Drive West for a welfare check following a 911 call.
• Officers learned Alvarez was an acquaintance who had been staying in the house.
• Alvarez told officers he had called after seeing an unknown person in the yard. Officers checked outside the home and in the area and were unable to locate any suspicious activity. Officers then cleared the area.
• By 5:10 a.m., officers responded back to the same residence after receiving a report that Alvarez had barricaded himself in a coat closet. Officers determined that Alvarez may be suffering from a mental health crisis and spoke with him through the closet door.
• Eventually, officers opened the closet door and Alvarez emerged holding a large knife in his right hand. Alvarez thrust the knife at the officers, stabbing a female officer in the stomach.
• Officers deployed a Taser, which was ineffective. Alvarez was then disarmed and placed into custody following a struggle.
• The injured officer was taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department, where she was treated and released.
• Alvarez was taken to Silver Cross Hospital by the Joliet Fire Department, where he remained on Saturday afternoon. No mugshot is available yet.