Joliet Man Swinging Baseball Bat Arrested: Joliet Police Reveal Details

JOLIET, IL — Several hours before the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs opened their Major League Baseball seasons, a 29-year-old Joliet man was arrested for swinging a baseball bat, but Joliet police say Andres Miranda was not out playing baseball.

Miranda's arrest happened during the wee hours of the morning while most of Joliet's residents were sound asleep in their beds.

According to police spokesman Dwayne English, at 1:03 a.m. on Thursday, the officers responded to the 1400 block of North Center Street for a disturbance involving a man swinging a baseball bat at a vehicle.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with a man who was dropping off a passenger at a nearby residence when a man, later identified as Andres Miranda, approached the vehicle in an
agitated state while holding an aluminum baseball bat.

"It is alleged that Miranda struck the vehicle multiple times and made threats to cause further damage. Miranda was believed to be a relative of the individual being dropped off," English said. "Officers observed damage to the vehicle, including markings and paint transfer consistent with
being struck by a metal object. The damage was located on the driver’s side window, driver’s side door, and both front fenders."

During a canvass of the area, English said the officers located an aluminum baseball bat believed to have been used in the incident. Officers then made contact with Miranda, who was taken into custody without incident.

Miranda was charged with aggravated assault, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

He was processed at the Joliet Police Department and released on a Notice to Appear in court.