Joliet police sergeant is arrested over leak of video
A Joliet police sergeant who leaked a video of a man’s death in custody earlier this year has been arrested on felony charges.
Sgt. Javier Esqueda, 51, was taken into custody at 9: 45 a. m. Wednesday on a Kendall County arrest warrant for two counts of official misconduct, according to a statement from Joliet police. The Plainfield resident has posted bond and been released.
The charges stem from Esqueda’s release of a video showing the death of Eric Lurry Jr. in Joliet police custody in January, police said.
Joliet Police Chief Alan Roechner said in the statement, “Sgt. Esqueda’s conduct violates not only the law, more importantly, it threatens the trust and confidence we strive for daily in our service to the citizens of Joliet.”
Lurry, 37, was taken into custody in January for drug- related charges, according to police. Officers found drugs hidden in his mouth, and he suffered a medical emergency. He later died at Saint Joseph Medical Center.
The Will County coroner’s office ruled his death an accident due to heroin, fentanyl and cocaine intoxication, saying that Lurry had more than 10 times the lethal dosage of the combined drugs in his system.
The Will- Grundy Major Crimes Task Force was assigned to investigate the incident following Lurry’s death, police said.
During an audit, Joliet police learned Esqueda gained unauthorized access to a video from the task force’s investigation and shared it with CBS2.
The video shows officers shaking Lurry, hitting him and holding his nose. He lies still as the two officers continue to hold him in place. At one point, an officer puts his baton in Lurry’s mouth. A flashlight is shined in his face, and he eventually slumps over.