Joliet Man Keeps Huffing Aerosol Cans He's Stealing from West Jefferson Street Stores: Police

JOLIET, IL —Over the span of a couple days, the Joliet Police Department arrested and re-arrested 37-year-old Shane Valentine, who lists his address as the Stepping Stones treatment facility on Joliet's Theodore Street.

In the first case, Valentine was booked into the Will County jail on charges including retail theft, criminal trespass and violation of pretrial release. Joliet police spokesman Tizoc Landeros said that at approximately 10 a.m. on May 21, the officers were dispatched to the area of the 2300 block of West
Jefferson Street regarding a retail theft in progress.

He said the officers made contact with a loss prevention officer, who provided a description of the suspect. Officers located someone matching the description on the side of the building. The subject was identified as Valentine, who was still in possession of the stolen merchandise, identified as aerosol cans. Landeros said the officers were familiar with Valentine and knew that he had previously been trespassed from the retail store.

Officers also knew that Valentine had been arrested the previous day by some of the responding officers. Valentine was on pretrial release for several Will County cases and had two prior theft convictions. Valentine was processed and subsequently transported to the Will County Adult Detention
Facility without incident.

Then on Sunday, Valentine had his second Joliet police arrest, this time for retail theft, criminal trespass, prohibited use of intoxicating compounds and violation of conditions of pretrial
release.

This time, Landeros said that officers were dispatched to the area of the 2300 block of W. Jefferson Street for someone bleeding from the head, later identified as Valentine, who was possibly in need of medical assistance. Officers also received information that Valentine may have been “huffing” an aerosol can.

A Joliet Fire Department ambulance was also dispatched to the scene. Landeros said the officers made contact with Valentine and saw several aerosol cans near him. Valentine was
transported by ambulance to Saint Joseph Medical Center.

The arrest report noted that the officers were familiar with Valentine and knew he had previously been trespassed from a local retail store. Officers responded to the store and received
information from a loss prevention officer that Valentine had stolen several aerosol cans.

While at the hospital, Joliet Fire Department paramedics informed officers that Valentine had fled from the
ambulance. Officers were able to locate Valentine nearby. Prior to being taken into custody, Valentine used an
aerosol can before officers detained him. Valentine was then transported to the Joliet Police Booking area.