Joliet Police: 1 Charged Following High Speed Chase To Diamond

JOLIET, IL — On Friday night, Joliet's Police Department announced that 24-year-old Dartavius Payton has been jailed on felony charges in connection with Tuesday night's high-speed chase that happened minutes after a 20-year-old man was gunned down in a driveway in the 300 block of Joliet's Grant Avenue.

Payton has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon. He was captured on Friday in Diamond and taken to the Grundy County Jail, according to Joliet police.

Payton's arrest comes one day after Joliet police released four people from custody in connection with Tuesday night's high-speed chase that began near 4th Avenue and Richards Street. The high speed chase topped 100 mph on Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 and ended in the Coal City and Diamond area. There, as many as six homicide suspects jumped out of their Cadillac SUV and scattered into the nearby woods.

Two people were never caught that night, and authorities suspect that they called friends to pick them up.

Payton now becomes the first person formally charged in connection with Tuesday night's string of Joliet crimes.

Nobody has been charged with the slaying of Rockdale resident Todd Taylor, however.

Payton, Will County Jail logs show, was incarcerated from July until last year November on several drug charges including cocaine dealing.

"The Joliet Police Department would like to commend their detectives and thank the Grundy County Sheriff's Office and Grundy County State's Attorney's Office for their cooperation and efforts in this case," Joliet police announced Friday night. "This is still an active investigation and the Joliet Police Department is continuously following up on leads."