Body In Canal: Joliet Fire Department Divers In Recovery Mode

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Fire Department spent Sunday night trying to find a body underwater in the downtown Joliet's canal. The Joliet Fire Department announced on social media that all divers were on the scene at several locations along the Des Plaines River for a person in the water. The fire department made the announcement at 10:20 p.m.

On Monday, Joliet's fire chief Greg Blaskey issued a news release stating that at 6:23 p.m. the Joliet Fire Department was notified of a possible person in the Des Plaines River near the Cass St. bridge.

"The Cass St. bridgetender called 911 when he heard splashing in the river along the west wall," Blaskey said. "When he went to investigate, he found no one in the river. However, he did locate footprints in the snow leading to the river wall."

The Joliet Fire Department dive team was called to the scene and searched the river until 10 p.m. and was unable to locate any victims.

"We will not be sending divers into the river today, but will conduct surface searches," Blaskey announced on Monday morning.

Joliet resident Bob Hernandez went to the location Sunday night to produce one of his Facebook Live videos.

He informed his followers that the apparent drowning victim had jumped into the frigid dirty waters, and the person who jumped into the water did not surface.

Joliet Patch will update this article as more information becomes available.