Bridge Jumper Attacked Pregnant Woman, Ran From Cops: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A 21-year-old Joliet man who punched a woman who is nine months pregnant in the face and held her down against her will was pulled out of the filthy Joliet canal after leaping into the Des Plaines River early Wednesday evening, Joliet police said.

Members of the Joliet Fire Department were called to the Jackson Street Bridge area, and they rescued Joliet criminal defendant Anthony Ramirez. At the Will County Jail, Ramirez was given a new set of dry clothes —the standard jail jumpsuit given to new inmates.

On Thursday, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed eight criminal charges against Ramirez: two counts of aggravated battery against a pregnant victim, two counts of domestic battery, one count of battery and three counts of resisting the arrest.

Just before 5:10 p.m, Joliet police were called to the city's near west side, a house in the 500 block of North Bluff Street where a domestic disturbance was underway.

Ramirez had attacked a woman who was nine months pregnant, Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said.

"Ramirez was with the victim in the bedroom, at which time he became angry and grabbed the victim’s arms and held them behind her," English noted. "Ramirez then punched the victim in the face."

As Ramirez tried to leave the house, Ramirez shoved the victim’s mother out of the way and "Ramirez also shoved an additional female adult while he was trying to leave," English said.

As Joliet police cars converged upon North Bluff, Ramirez took off running toward the Jackson Street Bridge, police report show.

"Officers caught up to Ramirez and discovered that he had jumped into the Des Plaines River," English said. "A Joliet Fire Department boat was deployed, and Ramirez was safely removed from the water and brought ashore, where he was placed into custody."

The Joliet Fire's ambulance rushed Ramirez to St. Joe's. In the hospital, he became uncooperative toward the Joliet police who showed up to arrest him, English said.

Ramirez refused to be processed, so he was taken straight to the Will County Adult Detention Facility. Ramirez lives in the 500 block of Joliet's Schribner Avenue.

On Thursday, Ramirez's bail was set at $25,000. He remained in custody at 8 p.m., unable to post the necessary 10 percent.