Joliet Police Ford Explorer Rammed By Fleeing Criminal: Prosecutor

JOLIET, IL —A 27-year-old Joliet man from 2nd Avenue who prosecutors say drove his car into an unmarked Joliet police car more than two weeks ago will remain in the Will County Jail indefinitely because a judge deemed Erik U. Chandler Jr. a flight risk and a danger to the community, just as the Will County State's Attorney's Office suggested.

Chandler is being charged with two counts of aggravated assault to a peace officer, fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, endangering the life or health of a child and obstructing a peace officer.

According to Chandler's pretrial detention petition from the prosecutors:

On Dec. 27, Joliet Police Officer Jason Banning saw a Chrysler 200 sedan heading east on West Jefferson Street with heavily tinted windows. Banning followed the sedan until the driver backed into a parking spot. The officer pulled in front of the sedan, nose to nose, and identified Chandler as the driver, and Chandler had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

There was also a woman and a small child in the car.

Banning turned on the flashing lights for his unmarked Joliet police vehicle, a Ford Explorer, and more Joliet police arrived to assist.

At that point, Chandler refused to get out of the car, and then he drove straight into Banning's Ford Explorer, damaging the Joliet police vehicle and "Joliet Officer Juan Santiago had to move out of the way to keep from being hit by the defendant's sedan as the defendant maneuvered away from the officers," the petition to deny release noted.

Chandler sped off, heading west on Jefferson Street, court records show. He avoided capture from Joliet police for about a week.

Then, on Jan. 4, Joliet police found Chandler at the Joliet Animal Control building and arrested him.

Incidentally, as Chandler was being arrested, he told a woman who was waiting for him "that he would get out soon and referenced the safety act," prosecutors outlined.

The woman's car contained an odor of marijuana, men's clothing, shoes and grooming items in a suitcase.

"Based on the circumstances of the defendant's flight on Dec. 27, 2023, the defendant is a flight risk to the community," declared Will County prosecutor Steven Platek.