Man Who Tried To Kill Joliet Police Officer In Custody: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A 42-year-old man who lived in Glendale Heights until recently is now in the Will County Jail, charged with attempted murder of a police officer and aggravated battery to a police officer. The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed the charges against Francisco Alvarez on Tuesday morning at the Will County Courthouse.

A bail hearing for the current Joliet resident of the 500 block of Bevan Drive was set for later in the afternoon in Courtroom 202. Alvarez was booked into the jail around dinner time Monday. Alvarez had been at Silver Cross Hospital since the early mornings hours of Saturday, April 29.

Last weekend, Joliet police announced that Alvarez was hiding inside a coat closet during a welfare check at the house on the city's west side, and when officers got the door open, Alvarez thrust a knife into the stomach of a female officer. She was taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department, where she was treated and released.

“This morning was another example of how increasingly dangerous a police officer’s job is," Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans announced in a statement issued Saturday. "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."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Joliet Officer Stabbed In Stomach During Arrest