Family Dollar Thief With Knife Captured On Bicycle: Joliet PD

JOLIET, IL — Four weeks after a thief inside the Larkin Avenue threatened one of the employees with his sharp knife, Joliet police announced the overnight capture of 31-year-old Johnny Lyles. The Joliet homeless man is charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, retail theft, assault and three counts of obstructing a peace officer.

The retail theft at the Family Dollar at 861 Larkin Ave. happened around 5:05 p.m. on April 1.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English:

• A man in the store concealed store merchandise in his pants and tried to leave the store without paying.
• An employee confronted the thief, at which time he threatened the employee with a knife and then fled. Detectives identified Lyles as their suspect.
• On April 18, Joliet police obtained an arrest warrant.
• Around 12:35 a.m. on Thursday, Joliet's overnight officers saw Lyles riding his bicycle in the street near Jackson Street and North Joliet Street, near Joliet's downtown.
• Lyles tried to flee on the bicycle when they tried to stop him.
• Officers caught up to Lyles and took him in custody. He had two active Will County arrest warrants for missing court on previous charges of burglary and criminal damage to property.