Wilmington man stays free after judge denies jail hold

Chad Glover will not be held in the Will County Jail. Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak ruled in favor of the 42-year-old Wilmington man on Monday. Glover is currently charged with three hate crimes, three counts of disorderly conduct, and two counts of intimidation. The decision means he does not need a new police mugshot and remains free while his case proceeds.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office filed charges in October. The complaint alleges Glover targeted a man and woman of Middle Eastern descent who were trying to buy a home in his neighborhood. He also targeted their real estate agent. The victims live in the 26000 block of West Willow Road near the Kankakee River.

According to court records, the incident began on July 14. Sheriff's deputies responded to a disturbance call. They found Glover driving an ATV. He told officers he did not like Sharia Law in his neighborhood and did not want the neighbors there. The victims stood on their porch with a 16-month-old child. They struggled with a lockbox to enter their home.

Glover and another person rode up on the ATV and shouted at the family. Court files state Glover yelled, 'we don't want you here, you are not welcome here, I will kill you.' He reached behind his back as if holding a gun. He stated, 'I will shoot you. I will go home and get my gun and shoot you.' No gun was shown at that time.

Glover returned shortly after. He again stated, 'I will kill you, we don't want you here, no Muslims and we don't want Sharia Law.' Prosecutors noted the male victim wore a turban and the female victim wore a burqa. The couple said they did not purchase the homes because of the comments. A neighbor also apologized to deputies, saying the neighborhood did not share Glover's views.

Glover has a prior criminal record. Prosecutors cited a 2008 DUI conviction in Will County and a 2012 aggravated domestic battery conviction in Cook County. His defense attorney, Steven Haney, did not comment after last week's hearing. Judge Bertani-Tomczak is in her 32nd year on the bench. She faces a retention vote in Tuesday's general election.