New Lenox Police Arrest Man on Domestic Battery, Child Endangerment Charges

Article Summary: New Lenox police say they arrested a 49-year-old village man on Oct. 5 on charges of domestic battery, endangering the life or health of a child and obstructing a police officer. The department says an outside tactical team was called in after the man stopped communicating with officers at a home where firearms were reported.

Arrest Key Points:

• Reported 6:26 p.m. Oct. 4 in the 2300 block of Alta Vista Drive; arrest made Oct. 5.
• Charges: domestic battery, endangering the life or health of a child, obstructing a police officer.
• The South Suburban Emergency Response Team assisted the New Lenox Police Department.
• The man was transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

NEW LENOX — New Lenox police arrested a 49-year-old village man on Oct. 5 on charges of domestic battery, endangering the life or health of a child and obstructing a police officer, the department said.

Officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Alta Vista Drive at 6:26 p.m. Oct. 4 on a domestic battery complaint, according to the department. A witness reported hearing children crying and seeing a woman bleeding, police said.

Officers who arrived met a woman who said she had been arguing with a family member, Nickolas R. Svehla, the department said. Police said the argument escalated, and that Svehla threw an object at the woman and knocked her to the ground, causing minor injuries. The woman told officers firearms were present in the home, according to the department.

Svehla was not cooperative, made threats of violence toward officers and stopped communicating with them while remaining inside the residence, police said. The department said that created significant safety concerns requiring additional assistance, and that the South Suburban Emergency Response Team responded to assist.

Officers made contact with Svehla on Oct. 5 and were able to take him into custody safely, according to the department. He was taken to the police department and then transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, police said.

The charges are allegations. Svehla is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.