Standoff with murderer who took nurse, guard hostage resolved quickly at Joliet hospital
JOLIET IL June 9 2017 – A convicted murderer took a nurse and prison guard hostage for a short time early Wednesday at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center.
According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Joshua L. Matthews, 32, was brought to the hospital by ambulance Tuesday from Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill. Matthews is serving a 100-year prison sentence for a 2004 murder in DuPage County.
“At approximately 3:35 a.m. Matthews displayed a makeshift weapon and informed the assigned correctional officer and a certified nurse’s assistant that they were being held hostage,” IDOC spokeswoman Nicole Wilson said in a statement.
As IDOC and hospital security talked to Matthews, Joliet police were called to the scene shortly before 4 a.m. Joliet Police administrators referred comment to IDOC. One Joliet officer who was not authorized to speak on the matter said the standoff was almost resolved when they arrived and they remained there “on standby.”
Wilson said in her statement “the situation was under control” by 4:20 a.m. “No physical injuries to hospital staff, IDOC staff or the offender were reported,” she wrote.
The Department of Corrections is conducting an internal investigation and will forward their findings to the Will County State’s Attorney’s office, according to Wilson.
Northwest Herald
