Sheriff Says 'May Not Have Been The Right Call' Not To Send SWAT To New Lenox Standoff

NEW LENOX, IL — Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley decided against sending the agency's SWAT team to a standoff situation in New Lenox Sunday. Now he's saying it might have been the wrong call.

Police were called Sunday to a home in New Lenox's Sky Harbor subdivision for a domestic battery complaint. The call led to an hours-long incident in which police say a man inside the home—identified as Nickolas Svehla, 49—threatened to harm police and cut off communication with them while harbored inside the home.

Police were told the man had injured a female victim during an argument and that guns were also present inside.

Svehla was "not cooperative, made threats of violence towards police officers, and ceased communication with officers while remaining in the residence," police said.

"This created significant safety concerns that required additional assistance and the South Suburban Emergency Response Team responded to assist the NLPD," according to officials.

A massive police presence, including the South Suburban Emergency Response Team, surrounded the home and lined the neighborhood's streets late into the night and early the next morning. Will County Sheriff's SWAT team had also been requested by New Lenox Police, but was told to stand down.

Sheriff Mike Kelley on Wednesday commented on his decision.

"Above all, I am grateful that there were no injuries to law enforcement or neighbors in the surrounding area during this incident," Kelley said in a statement to Patch. "As for my decision, yes, I did decide to not activate the SWAT team. That was based on the information I was provided at the time on Sunday night.

"Looking back on that decision now, I admit, it may not have been the right call."

The Will County Sheriff's Office said it will not comment any further.

New Lenox Police Chief Micah Nuesse acknowledged Kelley's comment.

"We appreciate the Sheriff’s acknowledgement that this was a bona fide SWAT callout and his recognition that, in hindsight, the decision not to activate the team was not the right call," he said. "We are grateful that SSERT was able to assist and, most importantly, that no members of the community or officers were injured.

"We are confident that, moving forward, there will be no issues accessing the specialized resources we need through the Will County Sheriff’s Department when circumstances warrant them."

Svehla was arrested Monday morning and charged with domestic battery/endangering the life or health of a child and obstructing a police officer. No children were harmed in the incident.