$5 million bond for man arrested after six-hour standoff in Joliet

JOLIET (STMW) - Bond was set at $5 million Friday for a man who police say was armed during a six-hour standoff with police in southwest suburban Joliet Thursday.

Chandel S. Dirkans, 33, faces felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, domestic battery, unlawful restraint and possession of a weapon by a felon, according to the Will County sheriff’s office.

About 1:30 p.m., officers responding to a call of a sexual assault at a house in the 600 block of Grant Street found Dirkans, who threatened to harm himself with a handgun, according to Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton.

The victim, a teenage girl who is related to Dirkans, called authorities after she managed to get away from the house and told officers he had sexually assaulted her, choked her and refused to let her leave, according to Joliet police.

When officers arrived at the house, they saw Dirkans through a second-floor window with a gun to his head, threatening to kill himself. The officers retreated and special response crews were called to the scene, Benton said. Negotiators tried for several hours to persuade Dirkans to surrender.

At one point during the negotiations, Dirkans exposed himself and officers shot him with a less-lethal weapon–foam baton rounds–but he was able to get back inside the house, Benton said.

About 7:45 p.m., Dirkans gave himself up and was taken into custody, Benton said. He was then taken to a hospital.

The alleged sexual assault victim also “sought treatment at a nearby hospital,” Benton said.

Dirkans, a Joliet resident, was ordered held on a $5 million bond by a judge on Friday, according to the sheriff’s office. He is due back in court Dec. 2.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Dirkans is currently on parole for a 2009 conviction for residential burglary. He also had previous convictions for unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon, robbery and burglary.