Joliet Armed Robbery At Gas Station, 100 MPH Chase On I-80: Police

JOLIET, IL — While most of Joliet was sound asleep early Christmas morning, 37-year-old Larry Johnson was robbing a Joliet gas station on Laraway Road and then leading police on a chase in his stolen car topping 100 mph along Interstate 80, Joliet police announced.

With the help of Channahon police, Joliet officers said the man from Crete was captured after trying to run away from his vehicle. Johnson is now lodged in Will County's Jail facing charges of armed robbery, aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, No FOID, defacing identification marks on a gun and obstructing identification.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English announced the following events led to Johnson's arrest on Christmas morning:

• At 3:20 a.m. Joliet officers learned of an armed robbery at the Pilot Travel Center.
• Johnson went behind the counter and pressed his handgun against the employee and demanded cash.
• After the employee was unable to open the cash register, Johnson stole cigarettes and drove off in a Ford Escape that was previously reported stolen.
• To escape the Joliet police, Johnson headed westbound on Interstate 80 at speeds as high as 100 mph.
• At Interstate 80 and Brisbin Road, Johnson got off the interstate and re-entered I-80 traveling eastbound.
• Channahon police deployed spike strips near I-80 and Houbolt Road, disabling Johnson's vehicle, although he kept trying to drive anyway.

• Johnson got off Interstate 80 at Larkin Avenue, crashing into a ditch near South Larkin Avenue and Mound Road, where he tried to run from his stolen car.
• Officers shot him with a Taser and captured him.
• Johnson's loaded 9 mm gun was recovered, and the handgun’s serial number had been defaced.
• "The Joliet Police Department wishes to thank the Channahon Police Department for its assistance in this case," Sunday's press release noted.

Will County Jail logs listed Johnson as living on South Kimbark Avenue in Chicago, not Crete. His bail was set at $20,000, which means Johnson can go free once he comes up with $2,000 cash.