Repeat Joliet DUI Driver Blew Red Light, Hit 3 Vehicles: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — After spending the past three months in the Will County Jail facing domestic battery and violation of protection order charges, 42-year-old Joliet resident Jeramie Lee Dahlhauser wrecked his pickup truck, blowing a redlight last weekend, crashing into another motorist, then hitting two parked cars, according to Joliet police arrest reports.

Dahlhauser is accused of biting the arm of an eyewitness who chased him down after Dahlhauser ran from the scene of his crash, according to Joliet police.

According to this week's criminal complaint, Dahlhauser's aggravated DUI charge shows he crashed his white Chevy Silverado pickup truck on Western Avenue. Dahlhauser has previous DUI convictions from April 7, 2011 County and June 6, 2000, in Winnebago County, with "said violation being a third violation."

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said that at 1:21 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to Western Avenue and Center Street for a crash with injuries.

English said that a Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Dahlhauser, was traveling westbound on Western Avenue approaching Center Street.

"It is believed the Silverado disregarded a red traffic signal and entered the intersection, striking a Toyota Corolla traveling
southbound on Center Street," English said. "After the collision, the Silverado continued westbound, overturned, and struck two unoccupied parked vehicles."

Dahlhauser fled the scene on foot, running southbound, police said. A witness to the crash pursued him and detained him near Campbell Street and Pearl Street until officers arrived, the arrest report showed.

"It is alleged that Dahlhauser bit the witness on the arm during the encounter. He was taken into custody without further incident," English said. Dahlhauser was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Officers saw signs of alcohol impairment, and open alcohol was found inside his vehicle, English said. The driver of the Toyota sustained minor injuries.

Dahlhauser was charged with aggravated DUI, DUI, aggravated battery, and violation of pretrial release. He was also issued multiple traffic citations, including disobeying a traffic control device, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage, possession of open alcohol by a driver, leaving the scene of an accident, driving with expired registration, operating a motor vehicle with registration suspended for non-insurance, and failure to carry a driver's license.

Upon release from the hospital, Dahlhauser was processed at the Joliet Police Department and taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

Dahlhauser remained locked up in the Will County Jail as of Thursday. He comes from the 200 block of Joliet's South Raynor Avenue, his jail logs show.

Dahlhauser had been locked up in the Will County Jail between Dec. 29 and March 16. That was also a Joliet police arrest.