Reports: Joliet cop was investigated on domestic battery allegations in March

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office decided not to file a criminal complaint against a Joliet police officer accused of domestic battery in March because there was insufficient evidence in the case, the state’s attorney’s spokeswoman said.

Officer William Busse, 36, of Homer Glen was investigated by the Will County Sheriff’s Office in March when parents of Busse’s girlfriend filed a complaint saying they suspected their daughter might have been physically abused, according to a police report obtained by The Herald-News through a Freedom of Information Act request.

On May 31, Busse was arrested on a domestic battery charge in a separate case where he is alleged to have physically abused his ex-wife in New Lenox. The two divorced last year.

He is the second Joliet police officer to have been charged with domestic battery this year. Detective David Jackson has been charged with slamming his girlfriend to the ground during an argument in March. Jackson’s case is scheduled for jury trial on July 1.

The parents of Busse’s girlfriend initially went to Tinley Park police on March 3 to report that their daughter arrived home intoxicated and her face was “badly bruised” and she had bruising “all over her body,” according to a Tinley Park police report.

The parents showed the Tinley Park police two pictures of their daughter that showed her eyes appeared to be “badly bruised and were swollen.”

The parents suspected Busse may have physically abused her in Homer Glen, according to the police report.

The Tinley Park police report was turned over to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s police reports were heavily redacted in response to a Freedom of Information Act request but they indicate investigators spoke with several potential witnesses.

The sheriff’s office investigated the case and turned it over to the state’s attorney’s office for a review.

On March 11, the state’s attorney’s office declined to issue a criminal complaint, according to the sheriff’s police report.

State’s attorney spokeswoman Carole Cheney said a complaint was not issued due to “insufficient evidence.”

Sheriff's spokeswoman Kathy
Hoffmeyer said there were conflicting statements regarding what was
being alleged.

Hoffmeyer did not answer questions on whose statements were conflicting and what was alleged.

Busse was unable to be reached by phone Friday.

Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner did not respond to calls Friday. The Tinley Park police report says Joliet police were told of the allegations in March.

Busse’s ex-wife petitioned for three protective orders against him between February and May that alleged he verbally and physically abused her. Two of the protective orders were dismissed while a May 24 protective order is scheduled for a court hearing on Aug. 14.

His ex-wife claimed in a Feb. 14 petition for a protective order that Busse physically abused her last September.

“I did not call the cops because he is a cop as well,” she claimed.

On May 26, Busse’s ex-wife contacted the police and alleged he became upset with her after discovering she was receiving text messages from a man, according to a New Lenox police report.

She claimed that Busse threw a drink at her face, dragged her by her hair, hit her on the head with an open hand and spat on her multiple times while she begged him to stop.

New Lenox police investigated the incident. Will County Judge Fred Harvey signed a warrant for Busse’s arrest on May 31. The warrant carried a $5,000 bond.

Busse was later arrested by New Lenox police in the parking lot of Silver Cross Hospital.