Jeffrey Fornango Breaks Into Joliet Cop's House Then Fights With Cops: Deputy Chief

JOLIET, IL - Criminals generally know it is not wise to break into homes with video surveillance systems and burglar alarms, or homes occupied by police officers. But Sunday afternoon, a 47-year-old man from Sante Fe, New Mexico, tried to break into the home of a Joliet police officer, according to deputy chief Ed Gregory. Jeffrey Fornango, 47, now finds himself in the Will Count jail facing two felonies, including aggravated battery and criminal trespass to land, plus a misdemeanor crime of resisting arrest.

Gregory said the incident unfolded around 3:30 p.m. Sunday when the off-duty Joliet officer and his family returned to their residence in the 1000 block of Oneida Street. Upon their arrival, the officer saw Fornango in the rear of his residence. When the officer asked why Fornango was lurking around his property, Fornango claimed it was Fornango's father's house, Gregory said. The officer told him he lived there and ordered Fornango to stand up against one of the walls as he was being arrested for criminal trespassing. As the off-duty officer tried to handcuff the man, Fornango pulled away and began hitting the officer, Gregory said.

A struggle ensued. The officer tossed away his handgun so Fornango couldn't get it. The officer's wife retrieved the gun, and she called 911. Other officers quickly arrived and to subdue Fornango, but he continued to fight back even with three officers trying to arrest him, Gregory said. Eventually, the officers handcuffed him and brought him to the Will County jail. The off-duty officer suffered a shoulder injury during the scuffle with Fornango, Gregory said.

According to Will County's booking logs, bond had yet to be set for Fornango as of Monday afternoon.

Booking mugshot Jeffrey Fornango via Will County Sheriff's Department