Haunted Trails Go-Kart Racer Punches Teen, 15, In Face: Police

JOLIET, IL — A 30-year-old Joliet man who punched a 15-year-old boy in the face at the Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center in late June was arrested Tuesday night on unrelated charges of domestic violence, Joliet police announced.

Shortly after midnight Wednesday, Timothy Churnovic was booked into the Will County Jail in connection with outstanding charges of aggravated battery as well as new charges of domestic battery.

Around 7:35 p.m. on June 21, Joliet police officers arrived at Haunted Trails, 1423 North Broadway St., after learning of a fight.

"Officers determined that Churnovic had struck a 15-year-old juvenile in the face with a closed fist after the juvenile confronted Churnovic after he was intentionally bumping into the juvenile’s and his family member’s go-karts while on the go-kart track," Joliet police reports say.

Churnovic, who lives in the apartment units in the 900 block of Gael Drive, left Haunted Trails before the police cars arrived in late June, authorities said Wednesday.

A Will County judge signed a warrant authorizing Churnovic's arrest in August.

Then, around 10 p.m., Tuesday, Joliet police were summoned to the Victory Senior Center at 31 North Broadway St., for a domestic violence call.

Officers learned that Churnovic had attacked his brother, according to police.

"Further investigation revealed that Churnovic became angry after his brother told him to leave at which time Churnovic attacked the victim and threw him to the ground," Joliet Police Spokesman Dwayne English indicated.

The man was able to call 911, and officers took Churnovic into custody, charging him with domestic battery in addition to the outstanding Will County arrest warrant stemming from the incident at Haunted Trails go-kart track on Broadway.