Man Who Owed $70K in Child Support Found Hiding in Basement

Editor's note: The following was provided by the Cook County's Sheriff's Department.

A 36-year-old man who has avoided paying thousands of dollars in child support attempted to avoid arrest by crawling down basement stairs, Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart said in a news release.

He wasn’t able to avoid the officers for long. Members of the Cook County Sheriff’s Central Warrant unit found the man, Steven Jones, in the basement of a building in the 900 block of S. 5th Avenue in Maywood.

They arrested him on the warrant and charged him with obstruction of service of process. At about 9:30 p.m. Thursday the officers went to Maywood address to execute a child support warrant for Jones.

Officer learned during their investigation that Jones worked there as a tax preparer. Jones owes $76,228 in past-due child support. His last known residence was in Bellwood. Outside the location, officers spotted Jones through a window. Officers knocked on the door and announced themselves.

Jones did not answer the door, but instead the officers saw him drop to the floor and crawl down the stairs. The officers knocked again, and announced themselves again, and told him to come to the door. With no answer after announcing themselves multiple times, and afterpositively identifying Jones, the officers forced entry into the building. They found Jones in the basement.

Jones appeared in Bond Court at the Maywood Courthouse today. He received a $30,000 I-Bond (own recognizance) for the obstruction charge and a $2,000 C-bond (must pay full amount) for the child support warrant.