Finger Severed During Joliet Machete Attack On Hunter Ave.

JOLIET, IL — A 32-year-old Joliet man is in the Will County Jail after Joliet police say he pulled out his machete and attacked a relative Wednesday night. Patch learned the victim's index finger was severed, and he was flown to Maywood in hopes that surgeons could reattach it. Kenneth Love has been charged with aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery and aggravated assault.

A Will County judge set bail at $75,000 after hearing the details of the crime from prosecutors.

Joliet police responded to the rental house in the 300 block of Hunter Avenue, on Joliet's near west side, around 10 p.m.

"Love and the victim began arguing while in the residence," Joliet police reports show. "During the argument, Love retrieved a machete from a closet and began to threaten the victim with it. Love then chased the victim out of the house while holding the machete.

"The victim fell to the ground at which time Love jumped on him and began swinging the machete at the victim as well as headbutting the victim."

Love's relative managed to escape, but when he tripped, "Love struck the victim with the machete, seriously injuring the victim’s left hand," police said.

After being injured, the relative broke free and called 911.

Joliet police found Love at the scene of the crime and put him in handcuffs without any problems, according to police.

The machete was recovered by Joliet police officers as evidence, officials said.

Joliet Fire Department ambulances brought Love and the victim to the AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. The victim was later flown to the University of Loyola Medical Center in Maywood where surgeons were attempting to re-attach the victim's finger, sources told Patch.

Meanwhile, Love was taken by Joliet police to the Will County Jail and booked into custody around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

Love lives in the 300 block of Hunter Avenue, jail records show.