Joliet Man Jailed For Dangerous High-Speed Police Pursuit

JOLIET, IL - One of the most dangerous situations for society involves a fleeing motorist trying to outrun the police. Juan Contreras of Joliet is suspected of being a dangerous driver who put the lives of many Will County residents at risk. On Friday afternoon, several days after a warrant was issued for his arrest, the 26-year-old Joliet man was admitted into the Will County Adult Detention Facility. Contreras, who lives in the 200 block of S. Eastern Avenue, now faces two felony charges of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and a third felony offense of aggravated driving while license revoked.

Contreras is accused of leading the Will County Sheriff's Department on a high-speed chase on the east-side of Joliet, around Collins Street, and then into Lockport back on November 26. The criminal complaint states that Contreras was driving a Volkswagen Jetta when a Will County Sheriff's squad car activated its flashing red and blue lights as well as an emergency siren. At that point, Contreras did not stop; he pushed his foot to the gas and accelerated, the complaint states.

The complaint states that Contreras sped away from the police cruiser and eventually drove into Lockport where Contreras "was involved (in) the disobedience of two or more official traffic control devices ..."

Of course, Contreras had no business being the wheel of any car.

As it stands, the most recent charge against Contreras for driving while his license is revoked "is the defendant's 4th violation," the complaint states.

On Friday, a judge set a $35,000 bond for Contreras. On Saturday morning, around 2:50 a.m., while most of Will County was sound asleep, Contreras walked out of Will County's jail.

He was able to post his bail.

Mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department