Joliet Police Chief Fed Up With SAFE-T-Act And Jesus Zambrano: 9 Open Criminal Cases

JOLIET, IL — Nearing his fourth anniversary on the job, Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans had a lot to say in regard to Thursday morning's arrest by his agency in the 1000 block of North Raynor Avenue. The latest arrest of 35-year-old ex-Joliet murder defendant Jesus Zambrano means that Zambrano now has nine open criminal cases at the Will County Courthouse.

Joliet police revealed that Zambrano was already on pre-trial release for multiple past criminal charges and was wearing an ankle monitoring device at the time of Thursday's search warrant.

“I find yet another arrest of Jesus Zambrano deeply troubling not only because of what was recovered following this morning’s search warrant, but because of what this arrest represents. I have learned that Zambrano currently has nine open criminal cases in Will County, many of them involving firearms, and yet he is still walking our streets. I am fed up," Chief Evans declared in Thursday evening's press release.

"Our officers are doing their jobs responding to calls, investigating cases, executing warrants, and taking dangerous offenders into custody only to see individuals with repeated violent and firearm-related arrests released right back into our neighborhoods. This pattern is unacceptable. Zambrano is a dangerous person who has repeatedly demonstrated that he has no regard for the law or for human life."

Chief Evans then went on to rip the Illinois SAFE-T-Act to shreds.

"The Illinois SAFE-T Act is broken, and it is not making our community safer. It is creating a revolving door that puts the same violent offenders back into the community, while our officers and residents pay the price," Chief Evans declared. "And while I am frustrated with a criminal justice system that too often fails to hold repeat offenders accountable, I want the public to know this: I am incredibly proud of the men and women of the Joliet Police Department.

"Despite the challenges, despite the revolving door, and despite a broken system that repeatedly undermines public safety, our officers still show up every day. They still answer the calls. They still put themselves in harm’s way. For that, I am grateful, and I know the Joliet community is grateful as well," Chief Evans pointed out.

Sgt. English Reveals What Happened: As for Thursday morning's arrest, here's what Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English had to say:

At 9 a.m. members of the Joliet Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1000 block of North Raynor Avenue resulting from an extensive narcotics and gun investigation.

Residents were advised to shelter in place as a precaution. Additionally, a nearby school was placed on “Secure and Teach” protocol for nearly one hour to ensure student and staff safety.

English said that Jesus Zambrano, 35, of Joliet and two women were ordered out of the residence and detained. Following a search of the residence, officers recovered multiple loaded guns including a 9mm handgun and two .45 caliber handguns, English noted.

Additionally, ammunition and suspected cocaine, heroin, and Xanax pills were recovered from the home.

New Charges: Zambrano was placed into custody and charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a gun, three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and criminal violation of Pre-Trial Release.

The two adult females were released at the scene.

Zambrano was processed at the Joliet Police Department and then transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.