By Kathy Whitaker, The Chicago Times
April 29, 2023
JOLIET, IL – A Joliet police officer was stabbed in the stomach Saturday morning while performing a welfare check.
According to police, officers were called to a home around 4 am on Bevan Drive West after a report of an unknown person in the yard of a residence. On scene, the officers weren’t able to see anyone suspicious.
Police said that an hour later, the officers were called back to the residence after a man, later identified as 42-year-old Francisco Alvarez, of Glendale Heights, barricaded himself inside a closet. The officers reported that Alvarez appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis. Officers then attempted to talk to Alvarez through the closet door.
After a period of time, officers were able to open the closet door to discover that Alvarez allegedly had a large knife. It is further alleged that Alvarez stabbed the responding female officer in the stomach.
Officers attempted to taser Alvarez but failed to subdue him, after a brief struggle Alvarez was taken into custody and taken to an area hospital for observation. Alvarez has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a police officer
The female officer was treated for her wounds at an area hospital and later released.
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