Fireworks Arrest Made After Harrah's Casino Hotel Incident

JOLIET, IL — In addition to being arrested late on the Fourth of July in connection with a party bus incident involving cocaine and two other drugs, 42-year-old Joliet resident Thomas Lopez was arrested in connection with Friday's bomb squad incident at Harrah's Casino Hotel in downtown Joliet, according to Joliet police officials.

Although Lopez remains in the Will County Jail on the drug possession charges, the Joliet police gave him an I-bond on charges of possession of fireworks.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English recapped the events leading to the fireworks arrest:

• At 11:55 a.m. on Friday, the Joliet Police Department responded to the Harrah’s Casino Hotel after housekeeping staff located what they believed to be unmarked explosives inside a guest’s room.
• The casino was immediately evacuated while the situation was investigated.
• The Cook County Sheriff's Police Bomb Team determined the unmarked item to be commercial-grade fireworks. Additional commercial-grade fireworks were also located in a vehicle in the casino parking garage, believed to be related to the hotel room. The bomb squad took custody of the fireworks for disposal.
• The casino, hotel, and parking garage were then re-opened to the public.
• During the investigation of this incident, Lopez was identified as the suspect that had left the firework in a guest room. Lopez was placed into custody at 10:54 p.m. on the Fourth of July, after being identified as a passenger in a party bus stopped by officers near Ingalls Avenue.

Related Joliet Patch crime stories on Thomas Lopez:

Party Bus Has Cocaine, Alprazolam Pills, Ecstasy: Joliet Police

Party Bus Intentionally Rams Vehicle Outside Joliet Bar: 22 Charges