Man charged with fatal Joliet bar shooting seeks jail release

A Crest Hill man is seeking to be released from jail by posting money in a 2018 case in which he’s charged with killing a bartender and wounding the son of the owner of Izzy’s bar in Joliet.

The bond hearing for Patrick Gleason, 61, will take place Wednesday. Will County Judge Dave Carlson will consider whether Gleason’s $10 million bond should be reduced to $1 million.

If Carlson reduces the bond to $1 million, Gleason would have to post 10% of that amount, or $100,000, to secure his release from jail.

Gleason’s attorney, Jeff Tomczak, filed a motion this week asking for a bond reduction for his client rather than a release under the conditions of the SAFE-T Act, which abolished cashless bail for defendants in Illinois.

Defendants who were in custody before the SAFE-T Act have the option of choosing a bond reduction under the old law, Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Byrne said.

Tomczak’s motion said Gleason would reside with a family member in Lockport if he’s released from jail and abide by any conditions or restrictions set by Carlson.

Gleason has been in jail since March 11, 2018, after he was charged with the murder of Izzy’s bartender Daniel Rios III, 52. Gleason also was charged with shooting and wounding Thomas Izquierdo, the son of Izzy’s owner Alfonso Izquierdo, and firing off shots at Artis Henderson.

Gleason’s case has lasted almost six years with no resolution in sight. His case almost went to trial in 2021 but was delayed again over issues regarding his mental fitness.

Gleason cut ties with his previous attorney, Chuck Bretz, and then motioned to exhume the body of Rios, which was denied. Gleason also filed his own federal lawsuits that claimed he was framed over the 2018 shooting. Those lawsuits eventually were dismissed.

Rios’ family and Izquierdo sued Gleason over the 2018 incident. Gleason also was sued by Illinois Casualty Co., which issued a policy to Izzy’s bar for for workers’ compensation coverage, claims, medical benefits and damages.

The lawsuits resulted in a global settlement in which Gleason’s $300,000 homeowner’s policy would be given to the plaintiffs, according to court records.

The plaintiffs agreed to Rios’ family receiving $140,000 and Izqueirdo receiving $160,000, court records show. Illinois Casualty agreed to waive reimbursement of its lien and continue paying workers’ compensation benefits to a member of Rios’ family.

Since Tomczak has taken on the Gleason case, he’s filed a motion to suppress his client’s statements to police. There has not yet been a ruling on the motion.

The motion alleged that Gleason was interrogated by a detective, and Gleason’s statements were the result of physical and mental coercion.