Report: Felon detained in Pritzker’s backyard

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – According to a new report, a 10-time convicted felon on pretrial release was arrested in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s back yard on the Fourth of July.

CWB Chicago reported that Dwayne Milton, 46, was on electronic monitoring for a retail theft case when Illinois State Police detained him on the governor’s property in Chicago.

Court records show that Milton began violating the terms of his pretrial release almost immediately upon being outfitted with an ankle monitor.

Around 10 p.m. on July 4, Chicago police officers were dispatched to the governor’s residence to help state troopers assigned to Pritzker’s security detail. The troopers had detained Milton after he allegedly jumped into the governor’s backyard.

Milton’s Cook County criminal court history includes more than 60 cases, including felony convictions for burglary, retail theft and robbery.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey said the SAFE-T Act is clearly not working.

“We’re all aware it’s obviously not working. We know that. Something’s got to be drastically changed,” Bailey told The Center Square.

The Pretrial Awareness Act provision of the SAFE-T Act effectively ended cash bail in Illinois when it took effect in 2023.

Bailey said thank goodness the governor had state police there to protect him.

“What about any other family that would not have had surveillance, and this person could have easily broken in and done harm to property or people?” Bailey said.

The governor’s office did not immediately reply to The Center Square’s request for comment.

State Rep. Patrick Sheehan, R-Homer Glen, also works as a police officer.

“Gov. Pritzker’s radical crime policies turned up in his own backyard,” Sheehan told The Center Square.

Sheehan wondered what Milton might have done if he had not been intercepted by the governor’s security team.

“It really just smacks of contempt for the system as they get released on electronic monitoring, and then they reoffend,” Sheehan told The Center Square.

Sheehan said he is glad the governor and his family are safe, thanks to the swift response of Illinois State Police and Chicago police.