$500,000 bond set for man charged with attempted murder of Joliet police officer

A judge set a $500,000 bond for a Glendale Heights man charged with attempted murder by stabbing a Joliet police officer in the stomach.

On Monday, Francisco Alvarez, 42, of Glendale Heights, was released from Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, transported to the Joliet Police Department for processing and ultimately booked into the Will County jail.

Alvarez has been formally charged with the attempted murder and aggravated battery of Joliet police officer Yuliana Lopez.

Alvarez was brought before Judge Donald DeWilkins on Tuesday for a hearing to set bond. Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fitzgerald recommended a $2 million bond while Alvarez’s attorney, Klaudia Stolarczuk, said the most her client’s family could post was $5,000.

DeWilkins set Alvarez’s bond at $500,000. As a condition of bond, Alvarez must obtain a mental health evaluation if he is released from jail.

About 4 a.m. Saturday when officers went to a residence in the 500 block of Bevan Drive West in response to a 911 call from Alvarez, Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fitzgerald said. Alvarez made the call because he thought someone was outside the residence, he said.

Officers asked Alvarez if he needed medical attention but he refused, Fitzgerald said.

After officers cleared the scene and left, the homeowner of the residence heard a commotion and discovered Alvarez was inside of a closet and would not leave, Fitzgerald said. Alvarez told the homeowner that someone was following him and out to get him, he said.

Officers responded to the scene and Officer Lopez was speaking to Alvarez in Spanish in the hopes of getting him to leave the closet, Fitzgerald said. Other officers called for an ambulance so Alvarez could be taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation.

Lopez opened the closet door and Alvarez came out with a knife and struck her police vest and lower abdomen, he said. Lopez had also suffered a puncture wound on her left buttock, he said.

Officers recovered a bloody knife with a blade that measured more than 13 inches, Fitzgerald said.

While at the scene, officers recovered marijuana and a white powdery substance that field tested for cocaine, he said.

Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English said in a statement that officers had deployed a Taser on Alvarez that was not effective, English said. Alvarez was disarmed and placed into custody following a struggle, he said.

Lopez was treated and released from Ascension Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Alvarez had been taken to Silver Cross Hospital for a mental health evaluation and injury to his hand caused by the knife, English said.