Police Chief Taken To Hospital After Downtown Attack, 1 Arrested

JOLIET, IL — A 39-year-old Joliet man, Joshua Medina, was hauled off in handcuffs after attacking both the owner of CUT 158 Chophouse and then Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans, the department announced Wednesday night. The Joliet chief was taken away by ambulance and his injuries are not considered serious.

As for Medina, he is now behind bars indefinitely at Will County's Jail, where he's being charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, battery and obstructing justice.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English issued a late night press release, explaining that the following events took place leading to the attack upon the Joliet chief:

At 6:27 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of North Chicago Street for a disturbance. A man, later identified as Medina, was searching through a garbage can on private property.

Medina had been warned by employees of the CUT 158 restaurant next door to leave the premises on numerous prior occasions.

On Wednesday night, Medina was advised to leave the premises by the owner of CUT 158, at which time he became abusive and struck the victim in the chest, police said.

Off-duty Joliet Chief of Police Bill Evans was in the foyer of the residential building and saw the attack on the victim. Chief Evans then intervened, identifying himself as a Joliet police officer to Medina, according to police.

Police said Evans tried to deescalate the situation and provided numerous commands for Medina to leave the premises, but Medina ignored them. Chief Evans indicated that Medina was under arrest and while trying to make the arrest, Medina punched Evans in the face, causing a minor injury.

Medina then struggled with Chief Evans and the original victim on the ground, at which time police said Medina bit Evans’ pinky finger.

Uniformed Joliet police officers arrived on the scene moments later and placed Medina into custody. Evans was taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department ambulance for treatment of minor injuries.

Medina refused medical assistance at the scene. While at the Joliet Police Department, Medina refused to cooperate with booking procedures, and he was taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

Will County Jail logs listed Medina as having an apartment unit address in the 200 block of North Hickory Street. However, Bill Dimitroulas, owner of CUT 158, told Joliet Patch that Medina is a homeless person who has become a recurring nuisance in downtown Joliet of late.

"My thank you to the chief of the police for trying to de-escalate the situation and thank you to the quick response from the officers after I called 911," Dimitroulas said.

The owner of CUT 158 said that Joliet police did a fantastic job handling the situation. He wanted to emphasize to everyone that Wednesday's night arrest did not take place at his restaurant.

As for Medina, "he seems like he was on something because it really took a lot to haul him down to the ground," Dimitroulas said. "Local restaurants have called police multiple times because he's been harassing people. He don't belong downtown for the people or the safety of downtown."

Patch asked Dimitroulas if he suffered any injuries during the attack.

"I had a little cut to my hand, no big deal," he said.