Frankfort Township Home Invasion Bust Follows Gas Station Confrontation: Police

FRANKFORT, IL — A man has been charged with home invasion after an incident in Frankfort Township that started on June 23, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.

William Schafer Jr., 37, is facing charges of home invasion, battery, interference with reporting of domestic violence, aggravated stalking, domestic battery, two counts of violation of order of protection, and two counts of aggravated assault.

At 10:40 p.m. on June 23, deputies were called to a gas station in Frankfort Township for a disturbance. The victim told police she was working, when her ex-boyfriend, Schafer, showed up and began an argument, the sheriff's office said.

"Words were exchanged" and while leaving, Schafer punched a bundle of fireworks that was stacked outside the door, causing it to slide back into a large window and break the glass, police said.

Schafer left the scene, and the gas station manager told police she would like to press charges for the damages.

"Deputies at the scene were also aware that Schafer had an active order of protection in place and that the victim and the gas station were indicated in the order as prohibited," the sheriff's office said.

Deputies attempted to find an address for Schafer, and were able to contact him via phone. The sheriff's office said Schafer spoke very briefly about the incident that had occurred and said that he would pay for the damages. Deputies asked if Schafer would be willing to meet with them to provide a statement, but he refused and the conversation ended.

Then, at 5:11 a.m. on June 24, deputies were called to the victim's home in Frankfort Township for an abandoned 911 call.

"Based on prior domestic-related contacts with Schafer at that residence and deputies' knowledge of the incident that had occurred approximately six hours prior at the gas station, [deputies] were on high alert of a possible volatile situation occurring," the sheriff's office said.

While responding, police were notified that a chase was happening between two men, and one man had a knife. Police located the victim and her friend, who told police that Schafer had broken through the front door of the home, and began a physical altercation with the victim and her friend, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies went to the home to make sure Schafer was not inside, and to secure the safety of three children inside, police said. The children were not harmed, and Schafer had left the scene.

The victim and her friend told police they were inside the home when they heard Schafer breaking down the front door. The sheriff's office said the victim called 911, but Schafer became physical and wrestled her for the phone.

"He then began attacking the friend and pulled out a pocket knife while threatening him," the sheriff's office said. The friend left the home and ran, while Schafer followed home holding the knife and threatening to kill him, police said.

Schafer stopped chasing the man and returned to the home and argued with the victim outside the home, and left the scene before police arrived, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies pinged Schafer's phone, and found him at a residence in Tinley Park. He was taken into custody, and charged.

Schafer will next appear in court on Friday, and again on July 9.