Joliet Man Hides Under Swimming Pool Deck During Latest Protection Order Violation: Prosecutors

JOLIET, IL — After spending the past three days locked up inside the Will County Jail, 37-year-old Joliet resident Ian Kush has regained his freedom, after prevailing during Monday afternoon's SAFE-T-Act pretrial detention hearing in Will County Courtroom 202.

Kush's most recent brush Joliet police happened over the weekend. He was arrested on charges of violating an order of protection. Separately, prosecutors charged Kush with resisting a police officer, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass from earlier incidents of this month.

As for the charge of unlawful violation of a protection order, the criminal complaint indicates it happened on Saturday at a protected address in the 2300 block of Messines Ridge Court. The house belongs to family members of Kush.

According to the prosecution's filing: Kush was served on Aug. 6 with an order of protection to keep him away from the house on Messines Ridge Court.

This past Saturday, at 9:14 p.m., Joliet police officer Olivares was sent to the same house on Messines Ridge Court for a protection order violation incident. The 911 dispatchers relayed that Kush was spotted on the property wearing a gray shirt and causing a disturbance.

At the house, Joliet police spoke with a woman who advised that she and her boyfriend were inside the garage working on her vehicle; the homeowner, her father, was in Florida while she was housesitting for him. The woman indicated that Kush walked up the driveway and began screaming and shouting at her, court files show.

The woman told police she knew Kush was not allowed to be on the property and she told him to go away. She closed the garage door and called for the Joliet police. The woman indicated Kush has been known to hide in the backyard under the deck.

An officer went to the backyard "and found lan laying down under the pool deck. lan was observed to be a M/W wearing a grey T-shirt and tan pants," prosecutors indicated.

Prosecutors also reminded the judge that Kush was just arrested by Joliet police back on Aug. 3 at the very same address for a trespassing crime.

"Officers were called for the defendant attempting to gain entry into the home, despite no longer living there. After officer arrival and being told he could not return or he would be arrested, officers were called once more to this address where they found the defendant on the deck in the backyard of the home," prosecutors advised the judge.

In Monday's decision, Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins ordered Kush's release from the jail even though he was charged with a detainable offense under the SAFE-T-Act. The judge ordered Kush to stay from the house as well as the family members who live there as well as those who called the police this past weekend. Kush will return to the courthouse for his next hearing on Sept. 16 in Courtroom 801.

Three years ago this week, back in 2023, Kush was also the focus of a Joliet Patch crime story related to his arrest late at night at the Betty's, located at 3068 Caton Farm Road. In that case, Kush was booked into the Will County Jail by Joliet police on charges of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and trespass.

Joliet police said that Kush was inside the business and began asking the staff numerous questions, which made staff uncomfortable. Joliet police said Kush refused to leave the business when requested by staff. Officers located Kush in the parking lot and demanded he leave the premises.

Kush initially left but quickly came back upon the property while officers were still on scene. Kush walked toward officers in an aggressive manner, while holding his hand behind his back and refusing to show his hand. Kush then made a motion towards officers as if he was drawing a weapon from behind his back. Kush was then placed into custody without incident and he was found to be unarmed.