Police blotter: Coroner’s office conducting autopsies on possible drowning victims
January 20, 2013 8:40PM
Updated: February 22, 2013 6:24AM
WILL COUNTY — The coroner’s office will conduct autopsies Monday on two men who may have recently drowned in separate incidents.
Around 12:40 p.m. Friday, a passerby on the McDonough Street Bridge in Joliet saw a man’s body floating in the Des Plaines River and had the bridgetender call 911.
The clothing and identification found on the body matches that of a Joliet man who was reported missing late last month. Police were told he had been despondent after losing his house to foreclosure.
Deputy Chief Coroner Bob Brenczewski said dental records would be used to confirm his identity Monday.
On Saturday morning, Braidwood police found the body of Edward Karnas, 53, floating in the ice of a wooded area of Shadow Lakes near Route 129 and Coal City Road.
Police decided to search the area several hours earlier after his pickup was found parked nearby, but did not find him in the heavily wooded area until daylight.
Karnas was wearing a flotation device while he was fishing, but was unable to get out when he fell through the ice, police said.
Man arrested
after shots fired
JOLIET — A 19-year-old man allegedly admitted taking part in a gunfight Wednesday afternoon.
Shots around 3:30 p.m. brought police to the 200 block of North Eastern Avenue where a man on the street was reportedly exchanging gunfire with a man on a nearby porch.
Officers reportedly found blood in the vestibule of a nearby building and were allowed to search an apartment and found a handgun and shell casings.
Terion D. Steward, of 460 Water St., reportedly called detectives and said he’d been shooting in self-defense, but was arrested on charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Door and railing removed to get body from house
JOLIET — Firefighters and deputy coroners had to remove a bedroom door and porch railing to take a large body from a house Friday morning.
Authorities report it appears the 48-year-old man had been dead for more than a week before they were called around 8 a.m. to the 200 block of Criswell Drive.
After a path was cleared it took eight firefighters about 20 minutes to place the body into a large bag with handles and carry it down the stairs, reports said.
A long-expired driver’s license listed the man’s weight at 350 pounds, but authorities at the scene estimated “substantially more” weight. The death does not appear to be the result of foul play.
In other police news:
Macario M. Reyes: 44, of 4 Mississippi Ave., Joliet, was arrested by Lemont police Wednesday on charges of driving on a suspended license and no insurance.
Tanita L. Lones: 35, of 14845 S. Perry Ave., South Holland, was arrested by Tinley Park police Wednesday on a charge of shoplifting.
Roberto O. Rivera: 21, of 13245 W. Woodland Drive, Homer Glen, was arrested by sheriff’s police Wednesday on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Hilario L. Lopez: 35, of 1025 Belle Ave., Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police Wednesday on charges of driving without a license and no insurance.
Carmouche D. Avery: 34, of 3640 173rd Court, Lansing, was arrested by sheriff’s police Wednesday on a charge of driving without a license.
John A. Bettenhausen: 48, of 20518 Driftwood Drive, Frankfort, was arrested by Frankfort police Wednesday on a charge of violating an order of protection.
Steven D. Washington: 41, of 901 Lois Place, Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police Thursday on charges of driving on a suspended license, reckless driving and no insurance.
Jose G. Suarez: 59, of 14241 S. Monticello St., Plainfield, was arrested by sheriff’s police Thursday on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Antonio G. Torres-Figueras: 24, of 3412 Joann Lane, Woodridge, was arrested by Bolingbrook police Thursday on a charge of residential burglary.
Santiago Lopez-Saquic: 37, of 15220 El Camino Real, Orland Park, was arrested by state police Thursday on charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and no license.
Samuel L. Jackson: 45, of 1179 W. Kennedy Road, Braidwood, was arrested by Braidwood police Thursday on charges of driving on a suspended license and unauthorized use of motor vehicle registration.
Robert L. Pitts: 44, of Hammond, Ind., and Steven Doss: 19, of East Chicago, Ind., were arrested by Joliet police Thursday on charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools and criminal trespassing.
Kenneth D. Ekonomi: 46, of 2600 S. Sacramento Ave., Chicago, was arrested by Joliet police Thursday for failing to comply with the state’s sex offender registry requirements.
Thomas C. Isherwood: 19, of 1804 Mia Court, Crest Hill, was arrested by Lockport police Friday on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle.
Brian E. Falls: 24, of 609 S. Cooper Road, New Lenox, and Eric J. Larson: 24, of 512 Stafford Drive, New Lenox, were arrested by New Lenox police Friday on charges of drug possession. Falls was also charged with operating an uninsured vehicle.
Santiago S. Sanchez: 36, of 1104 Ridgewood Ave., Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police Friday on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and no insurance.
Misty K. Mikula: 35, of 2108 Pebble Beach Drive, Plainfield, was arrested by Joliet police Friday on a charge of shoplifting.
Larry D. Knight: 23, of 1230 Gage St., Joliet, was arrested by Joliet police Friday on a charge of aggravated battery.
Hilda Arredondo-Ramirez: 29, of 3301 Wexford Lane, Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police Friday on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
