Farmers Weekly Review

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that upgraded charges against Denzel Hawthorne of Lockport were filed today by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office during court proceedings at the Will County Courthouse. Since Hawthorne’s arrest on multiple gun and drug charges on March 19, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office has been meeting with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office to review the case and Hawthorne’s initial five charges. Upon presenting the State’s case today, eleven additional charges were filed for a total of sixteen.

Hawthorne is now being held on four Class X and twelve Class 3 felonies. Class X charges include: Manufacture/delivery 900+ grams, Meth delivery 900+ grams, Manufacture/delivery 15-100 grams cocaine, Meth delivery 15-100 grams, while the Class 3 felony charges are for Possession of a Firearm with revoked FOID card.

Hawthorne was remanded back to the Adult Detention Facility where he will be held. His next court appearance will be April 4, 2025, at 9am, in Courtroom 405.

After a several month-long investigation, on March 19, at 9 a.m., deputies from the Will County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Gang Suppression Unit, Warrants Unit, and Drug Interdiction Unit, along with members of the Frankfort Police Department and federal agents, met to execute several search warrants. Included in those warrants were two residences affiliated with Denzel S. Hawthorne, age 28.

The warrants were for Hawthorne’s apartment located at 590 Rosanne Lane in Lockport, IL and at a second residence in the 16500 block of Basil Court in Lockport.

While surveilling the 590 Rosanne Lane address, the subject of the warrant, Denzel Hawthorne, was observed by deputies leaving the apartment complex. Deputies announced themselves, and after a brief foot pursuit, Hawthorne was taken to the ground.

Hawthorne resisted deputies and repeatedly reached towards his waist. After a struggle, Hawthorne was handcuffed and taken into custody. A body search revealed two baggies containing crack cocaine, three baggies of heroin, a large amount of United States Currency and two cell phones. He refused to speak with deputies.

Deputies then simultaneously executed the search warrants for the apartment at 590 Rosanne and the residence on Basil Court.

At the Rosanne Lane address, deputies observed an individual inside the apartment. After announcing themselves and knocking several times with no response, deputies breached the apartment door and located the individual inside the bedroom. This person was questioned and released without charges.

Many items of evidentiary value were found within the apartment including a digital scale, USC, cocaine, methamphetamine, and numerous other pills and substances believed to be illegal narcotics. Also seized from this address was a 2020 Infinity SUV.

Concurrently, deputies breached the front door of the Basil Court residence with a ram. No person was found to be in the home, however, many items were located and seized for evidence, including: more than 15,000 grams of meth/cocaine, heroin, 14 firearms including three AR-15’s — one listed as stolen, various calibers of ammunition, numerous firearm magazines – several with high capacity, multiple identification cards for Hawthorne, and a large amount of U.S. currency.

Hawthorne was transported to the Adult Detention Facility where he was held on charges of possession with intent to deliver over 900 grams of cocaine; possession with intent to deliver over 100 grams of heroin; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; illegal possession of a firearm/revoked FOID card; and resisting a police officer.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. Any further developments or charges will be made available to the public when appropriate.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Frankfort Police Department and those who assisted in this extensive investigation that culminated in the successful felony arrest of Hawthorne, as well as the substantial seizure of illegal drugs and weapons.