Neighbor Dispute Turns Into Stalking, Joliet Police Arrest Woman: Cops

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department announced that its officers made a stalking arrest last week involving 64-year-old Joliet resident Linda Sowa.

According to police spokesman Dwayne English, at 8:03 p.m. March 17, officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of Cypress Lane for a dispute between neighbors who have
an active stalking no-contact order in place.

English said the officers spoke with Sowa and confirmed she is listed as the respondent on the order. According to police, Sowa believed her neighbors were in possession of a key to her home. After officers verified that the neighbors did not have the key, police say Sowa became upset and began walking toward the neighboring residence, which is a violation of the no-contact order. Officers also learned that Sowa had sent text messages to the petitioner indicating that she intended to go to the residence, English said.

Sowa was taken into custody without incident and charged with violation of a stalking no-contact order. After making statements related to self-harm, she was transported by the Joliet Fire Department to St. Joseph Medical Center for evaluation, English indicated.

Upon her release from the hospital, Sowa was processed at the Joliet Police Department and transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility. The jail logs indicate that Sowa was kept in custody for three days. She regained her freedom on March 19.