Crest Hill man accused of Will County Courthouse threat

Joliet — A Crest Hill man was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after he was accused of making a vague threat aimed at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet on Friday.

At around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Rickey Evans, 32, of the 1800 block of Arbor Lane, was booked into the Will County Jail after he was positively identified by deputies as the suspect who made a threat, according to Will County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer.

Sheriff’s detectives worked on the case from Friday evening into Saturday and picked him up at his residence at Arbor Lane, Hoffmeyer said.

Evans allegedly called 911 on Friday and said, “Everyone needs to be outside the Will County Courthouse by 3:30,” according to Hoffmeyer.

When Evans was asked why people needed to be outside the court, he said, “Y’all see,” Hoffmeyer said.

Western Will County Communication Center, which handles 911 calls, received a call from a person believed to be Evans who made the threat at 3:18 p.m., Hoffmeyer said.

The courthouse was evacuated at 3:30 p.m., Hoffmeyer said. A full security sweep of the courthouse was conducted and nothing was found.

Officers who responded to the May 21 shooting that damaged the Joliet office for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services were told that Evans was a possible suspect, according to a June 24 forfeiture complaint filed by prosecutors.

Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of Evans’ Nissan Altima that was seized by Joliet police officers investigating the shooting. A court hearing on the forfeiture complaint is set for Aug. 10.

In the complaint, prosecutors said officers found two spent shell casings in Nissan Altima that were possibly linked to the shooting, as well as DCFS paperwork belonging to Evans.

As of Monday, court records showed no charges against Evans in connection with the shooting.

Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English declined to respond to questions about the case because it is still under investigation. Representatives from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office did not respond to messages on Monday.