Joliet Officer Hospitalized After Attack At Riverwalk Homes

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet police officer is hospitalized at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in stable condition after being attacked from behind and put into a headlock Sunday night at the Riverwalk Homes property, formerly called Evergreen Terrace, according to Joliet police.

A second person involved in the attack stomped on the officer's head, department spokesman Dwayne English said.

James Webb, 39, of Joliet, has been booked into the Will County Jail on three charges of aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated assault to a peace officer, mob action, felony resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer.

Webb's acquaintance, 35-year-old Antonio Tobar, has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer, obstructing justice and mob action. Both criminal defendants live at different apartment units inside Riverwalk Homes, jail records show.

At 6:42 p.m. Sunday, Joliet police went to the Riverwalk Homes in the 300 block of Broadway Street after receiving a 911 hang up call.

Joliet police say that Webb was arrested following a short struggle after Webb attacked the officer inside an apartment building hallway.

While the officer was dealing with Webb, Tobar attacked the officer from behind, putting him into a headlock, causing the officer to briefly go unconscious, English said.

"As the officer continued to struggle with Tobar, Webb began stomping on the officer’s head and spitting on him while the officer was on the ground," police reports show. "The officer deployed a taser on Tobar, which had no effect."

The injured officer put out a notice for emergency help, and a Riverwalk Homes security guard intervened, breaking up Tobar's attack on the officer, police said. Other Joliet police got to the scene and took Tobar away in handcuffs. A Joliet Fire Department ambulance rushed the injured officer to the Joliet west side hospital.

According to Joliet police, the officer who was attacked is now in stable condition at AMITA St. Joe's hospital. The injured officer has two years of service with Joliet's Police Department.