Joliet Police Can't Find DUI Defendant In Pedestrian Death

JOLIET, IL — Family and friends of Alex Dauzvardis were jolted by news of the 36-year-old Joliet man's death around 4:05 a.m. at West Park Front and Park Drive on June 6, 2019. Four months later, Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow's Office convinced a grand jury to issue nine felony charges against the motorist accused of hitting and killing Dauzvadis, Samuel Byrd.

Nearly a year later, nothing has happened in the criminal prosecution of the 31-year-old Joliet resident. Byrd's felony charges include aggravated DUI causing death, aggravated DUI no valid driver's license and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

The pedestrian fatality was investigated by Joliet Police Officer Bob Mau Jr. Last year, Mau testified before the Will County grand jury that handed up the indictments against Byrd, court files show.

"Said defendant drove a Chevrolet on West Park Front Street in Joliet ... and knowingly failed to stop the vehicle he was driving after the vehicle was involved in an accident at West Park Street and Park which resulted in the death of Alex Dauzvardis," the criminal indictment reads.

However, at no point during the past year have any Joliet Police Department officers arrested Byrd, whose address in the 600 block of Ida St. is just a couple blocks away from the deadly crash.

At no point during the past year did the Joliet Police Department administration of Chief Al Roechner utilize social media, its Facebook page, local news media outlets or the Will County Crime Stoppers organization in an effort to locate Byrd, Joliet Patch determined.

A review of Byrd's prior court files at the Will County Courthouse indicates that Byrd has practically lived in Joliet his whole life. Prior to residing on Ida Street, Byrd lived on Lilac Lane and on North Center Street.

Joliet Patch discovered Byrd's criminal case was inactive as a result of an extensive review of court files at the Will County Courthouse. Joliet Patch regularly monitors the criminal cases of high-profile Joliet criminal defendants whose cases made the news.

In recent weeks, Joliet Patch realized Joliet's Police Department had yet to arrest Byrd in connection with his nine-count felony indictment that resulted from the death of a young man from Joliet.

"Alex held jobs in various positions ranging from construction to health and fitness," his summer 2019 obituary noted. "He loved artwork and was very skilled in drawing, painting and tattoo artistry. His favorite color was green. His favorite song was Iris from the Goo Goo Dolls. He lived life with a sense of adventure and was always ready to help anyone in need."

This week, unsure whether Byrd's pending criminal charges had fallen through the cracks at the Joliet Police Department, Joliet Patch called Lt. Chris Botzum, who serves as the department spokesman for the administration of Chief Al Roechner and Deputy Chief Darrell Gavin.

Botzum replied to Joliet Patch's editor in an email indicating the Joliet Police Department is actively trying to locate Byrd, and that Byrd's apprehension remains a high priority for Joliet.

Byrd's name, address and criminal charges appear on a website operated by the Will County Sheriff's Office for outstanding felony warrants. However, there was no photo of Byrd uploaded to the website even though it has been common practice for law enforcement agencies in Will County to publish a photo or mugshot of the defendant being sought on the Will County Warrants website.

On Tuesday, Joliet Patch's editor went to 609 Ida St. and knocked on the door, prompting a dog on the inside of the windowless door to start barking loudly. However, no one answered. On Wednesday, Joliet Police Department circled back to Joliet Patch and furnished a photo of Byrd to utilize with this article, in hopes of locating Byrd and bringing him into custody.

This week, Joliet Patch informed Lt. Botzum that Byrd's court records indicate he has lived in Joliet as an adult. However, Botzum informed Patch that it's unknown where Byrd could be now.

The criminal indictment from last October indicates Byrd is 5-foot-9, 300 lbs, brown eyes and black hair. Bail in Byrd's nine-count felony case was set by a Will County judge last October at $500,000. In other words, Byrd will need to come up with $50,000, which is 10 percent, in order to regain his freedom at the time he is taken into Joliet police custody.

As it stands, Byrd's criminal prosecution remains in limbo at the Will County Courthouse even though it's been nearly a year since his indictment. For family and friends of Alex Dauzvardis, their efforts of getting justice through the Will County judicial system have basically lost a year of time. Dauzvardis attended Laraway grade school and Joliet Central High School. He was survived by his parents Michael and Mary, his two daughters, Autumn and Ella Riggs and their mother, Amy Riggs, his obituary noted.

"A warrant was issued for Samuel Byrd on Oct. 23, 2019, for multiple offenses including (aggravated) DUI and leaving the scene of a fatal crash," Botzum wrote Joliet Patch this week. "Officers have made multiple attempts to locate Byrd to no avail. As of today's date, the warrant is still active."