Deputy Shep on the Job!
The Will County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit has once again successfully tracked an individual that deputies were attempting to locate.
On August 8th, K-9 Lizzy successfully tracked a confused 73-year old missing man from Beecher who was eventually located in a thick cornfield.
Wednesday, August 28, K-9 Shep and his deputy handler were able to track, fleeing offender, Anthony Ramirez of Joliet, to the vehicle he was hiding inside.
Deputies were called at 9:30 p.m. to a residence in the 1400 block of Eagle Street in Joliet Township.
Deputies spoke with the homeowners who stated that while inside their residence they heard yelling and then observed their neighbor, a 56 year old male, being attacked by Ramirez in the middle of the street.
Ramirez was striking the victim in the face and about the body with his fists. While the man was trying to escape, Ramirez continued beating him in the back.
The homeowners attempted to stop the attack as Ramirez then began swinging his fists at them, striking the male homeowner and pushing the female homeowner. The homeowners, nor the neighbor, had any knowledge of who Ramirez was and had no previous contacts with him.
The neighbor informed deputies that he and a friend were outside his home when Ramirez approached them highly agitated, screaming and acting erratically. Ramirez then punched the window out of a Ford Fusion parked on the street before the altercation began. The Ford Fusion was owned by the homeowners.
After the altercation, Ramirez proceeded to walk eastbound on Eagle Street where he picked up a brick and threw it at the tailgate of a GMC Sierra. As he continued down the street he smashed windows out of a Hyundai Accent and Chevy Trailblazer with his fists.
While deputies were taking statements from the victims, other deputies, along with K-9 Shep, were canvassing the area looking for Ramirez. A deputy observed a male subject who fit the description, running northbound on Krakar Avenue and lost sight of him.
Deputy K-9 Handler and Shep returned to Eagle Street and with an assisting deputy, began tracking Ramirez’s scent east on Eagle St. Shep then led them north on Krakar Avenue, east on Copperfield Avenue, then south on Scribner.
Once on the 500 block of Scribner, K-9 Shep led them to a backyard where he alerted a positive hit next to a vehicle. Deputies located Anthony Ramirez hiding in the rear passenger compartment of that vehicle. While attempting to take Ramirez into custody, he refused multiple commands as he kicked, spit, and was highly combative until deputies assumed control.
Ramirez was treated at the hospital for injuries to his hands, released, and was transported to the Adult Detention Facility. He was charged with one count of aggravated battery to a peace officer, two counts of aggravated battery, and three counts of criminal damage to property. Ramirez also was held on an active warrant out of Springfield from the IL Dept. of Corrections on a parole violation.
Shep and all of our K-9’s continue to prove how invaluable they are to the Sheriff’s Office, as well as to the safety of our residents. Good Job Shep!