Baby Boy Slammed Into Car Seat By Angry, Drunk Mother: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A 25-year-old Joliet woman from the 100 block of North Center Street, on the city's near west side, is now in the Will County Jail after she was seen slamming her little 5-month-old boy into his car seat, violently shaking the car seat and then driving off under the influence of drugs and alcohol, Joliet police said.

The child suffered serious head trauma, according to Joliet police arrest reports.

Taylor Harmon was captured by Joliet police late Thursday night, and she's back in the Will County Jail for at least the fourth time since 2018. She was put in the jail around 3 a.m. Friday on four counts of DUI: DUI – Alcohol, DUI – BAC Over .08, DUI – Drugs and DUI - Alcohol/Drugs as well as domestic battery and endangering the life or health of a child.

Harmon's little boy was initially taken to St. Joe's hospital by a Joliet Fire Department ambulance. Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said it was his understanding the little boy was transferred to a different hospital, Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, but is still in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services.

English said the events surrounding Harmon's arrest happened this way:

• At 10:38 p.m., Joliet police were sent to the 100 block of North Center Street, where Harmon lives, for a child abuse report. An eyewitness saw Harmon throwing her 5-month-old infant into an infant carrier and then violently shaking the carrier, causing the infant’s head to strike the carrier multiple times, according to police.
• As Harmon's neighbor tried to intervene, Harmon grew angry and demanded that she leave, police said.
• Harmon then drove away in a vehicle with the infant.
• Officers spotted the GMC Yukon and pulled Harmon over near West Jefferson Street and Catherine Street. Officers located the infant in an infant carrier in the back seat.
• Harmon exhibited signs of possible alcohol impairment, police said. Officers also learned that Harmon had consumed marijuana earlier in the day as well.
• Officers took protective custody of Harmon’s child and saw visible injuries to the child’s head and back.

Harmon will have her bail hearing on Friday afternoon before a Will County judge.