Joliet Car Burglar May Lose Mercedes E320: Forfeiture

JOLIET, IL — The Will County State's Attorney's Office has asked a judge to declare a 2002 Mercedes E320 as a forfeited police asset because the car was involved in a Joliet car burglary on Sept. 29, court files reflect. Joliet defendant Damon A. Mills, 20, faces one count of burglary to a motor vehicle.

Joliet Police delivered Mills to the Will County Jail on the day of the late September crime. His case was later sent to Will County Judge Sarah Jones and last week Jones reduced Mills' bail from $75,000 to $50,000.

On Monday, Mills posted $5,000 to get out of jail.

On Tuesday, the State's Attorney's staff filed a forfeiture complaint against his family's car.

According to the complaint, Joliet Police officers responded to a burglary of a white Chevrolet Tahoe in the 1400 block of Devonshire Drive. The caller told police that while his garage was open, he saw a white man park a silver Mercedes in front of a nearby house, exit and "enter the white Tahoe that was approximately 50 feet in front of him," court records state.

The man stayed inside the Tahoe for more than one minute, then returned to his Mercedes and drove up about five houses "and parked his car near another vehicle," the forfeiture reads.

Other Joliet Police officers notified of the burglary quickly spotted Mills at the intersection of Devonshire and Brentwood Place, court documents show. He was put in handcuffs and taken to the police station.

The Chevy Tahoe owner later identified the following items were stolen from his vehicle: a dark religious candle that was found in the center console cup holder of Mills' 2002 Mercedes E320 and an RCA audio cable "which was on the pavement outside the driver's side door of the vehicle," the complaint states.

The civil forfeiture asks a judge to declare the Mercedes as a forfeited police asset because the car was used to transport Damon Mills to the location of a burglary and conceal proceeds from the burglary.

In September 2018, Damon Mills pleaded guilty to unrelated Joliet Police charges of burglary and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He was given credit for 275 days in jail and given a short prison term at the Department of Corrections, court files show.

The forfeiture complaint indicates the Mercedes is owned by Carol Mills, and she resides at the same address as the 2018 convicted burglar and convicted drug dealer.