Suicidal New Lenox Man Trapped Woman, SWAT Team Called: Police

NEW LENOX, IL — A 34-year-old New Lenox man who was wanted on a warrant now faces new criminal charges after a woman told police she was trapped inside a New Lenox Township home with the man who she said had threatened to shoot himself, police said.

Joshua Jones fired off a rifle late outside the home on Saturday night, Will County Sheriff’s Office officials said, but the woman who called 911 said that Jones was intoxicated, police said.

The incident took place at 11:43 p.m. on Saturday in the 15700 block of Maple Road, where a SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found the woman, who had been able to safely escape from the residence, according to Dan Jungles, deputy of special operations and investigations for the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.

The woman told 911 dispatchers that she was trapped inside the residence and was using a door to shield herself from Jones, who she told police was suicidal and had threatened to shoot himself, Jungles said.

Police said that the large property included three residences, including the woman’s home, her parents’ home, and a trailer that was a short distance from the woman’s home. Deputies who were called to the location were able to evacuate four people, including a child, from the residential properties while other officers established a perimeter around the property, Jungles said in an email.

Jones had been wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in court on drug charges, and the warrant carried a $250,000 bond, officials said.

Negotiators spent several hours speaking with Jones, who then peacefully surrendered without incident on Sunday morning. He was booked into the Will County Jail at around 11 a.m. on Sunday and has been charged with the reckless discharge of a firearm and obstruction of a police officer, police said, as well as on the outstanding warrant on the drug charge.