Child, 4, Rescued By Joliet Police Following DUI Arrest: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A 40-year-old man who comes from nearby Romeoville is lodged in the Will County Jail after Joliet police arrested him on felony DUI charges and removed a 4-year-old child from his Chevrolet Malibu following Sunday night's traffic stop.

Joseph Waits was booked into the county detention facility on charges of DUI, DUI-BAC over 0.08, aggravated assault, endangering the life or health of a child and obstructing justice.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, the following events led to the Romeoville man's arrest in downtown Joliet:

• At 11:05 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of East Cass Street for a disturbance. Officers learned that Waits may be driving a Chevrolet Malibu. Officers located the vehicle parked in the 100 block of Clinton Street and saw it was illegally parked, more than 12 inches from the curb and blocking a driveway.
• Waits was seen walking away from the vehicle with a 4-year-old girl in tow.
• Officers confirmed the Romeoville man had previously driven the Chevrolet Malibu with the child as his passenger.
• Waits exhibited signs of alcohol impairment, and Waits refused to perform field sobriety tests.
• Officers recovered cannabis from inside his car.
• Upon his arrest, Waits grew belligerent, threatening to spit on officers and fight them.
• Waits refused to cooperate with the booking process at the Joliet Police Department and he was transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
• As for the 4-year-girl, the child was placed into the care of her mother. Waits was also cited for improper parking at the curb and possession of cannabis by a driver. His vehicle was towed from the scene.