'You're Not Going To Shoot Me Are You?' Complaint

JOLIET, IL — A 33-year-old man accused of fleeing the scene of a traffic stop on Aug. 31 in Joliet and dragging a Joliet Police officer for a short distance may have his 2003 Lincoln Towncar declared a forfeited asset for the police. The forfeiture complaint also reveals that defendant Joseph Lopez asked Joliet Police Officer Pete Ranstead, "You're not going to shoot me are you?"

That night, Joliet Police set up a roadside safety check at Center and Dekalb Streets. As the night went on, Ranstead saw the 2003 Lincoln Towncar involved in a crash near the same intersection.

After the officer approached his car, Lopez wanted to know if the officer planned to kill him. The officer assured Lopez that he was not going to shoot him, court documents indicate. Lopez was asked to provide his driver's license and proof of insurance.

Court documents also indicate that Lopez "had glassy/bloodshot eyes, extremely small eye pupils ... the strong odor of alcohol emitting from the vehicle."

During the traffic stop, "Lopez placed his foot on the accelerator and dragged Officer Ranstead several feet, swerving through cones and almost struck Sgt. (Phil) Stice's vehicle in the roadway with emergency lights activated," court documents show. "Officer Ranstead was able to let go of the vehicle without any injury."

Meanwhile, Joliet Police Officer Mike Pauly saw Lopez's Lincoln Towncar "pull away from the northbound Center Street lanes into the southbound lanes, which was the wrong way on a one-way street, dragging Officer Ranstead with it. Officer Pauly ran to his squad car and pursued the Lincoln," the forfeiture complaint notes.

The Lincoln sped off and blew traffic lights at Broadway and Western Avenue as well as the stop sign at Bridge Street, court documents note.

Court documents note that Officer Pauly eventually gave up trying to find the fleeing car. Meanwhile, Ranstead confirmed that Lopez had a revoked Illinois driver's license since 2004.

Later, Joliet Police got a helpful tip from the security guards at the former Evergreen Terrace public housing complex, which is now called Riverwalk Homes.

"Lopez was seen walking through the building of 316 North Bluff Street with another person," court documents state. "Officer Ranstead and Officer (Von) Stein approached the building ... (and) recognized Lopez and another person who had started to walk out of the building. James Lopez was placed under arrest for aggravated fleeing and eluding, driving while revoked, DUI and operating an uninsured motor vehicle."

Lopez, however, refused to participate in any breath or chemical tests, court records indicate.

"At this time, Officer Ranstead could smell heavy amounts of alcohol emitting from Lopez," the forfeiture reads.

Lopez was arrested and he remained in the Will County Jail for three days. Then on Sept. 3, he posted 10 percent of his $7,500 bail, logs show. Court documents list Lopez as having an address in Dolton and an address in the 300 block of North Broadway Street in Joliet.

The forfeiture complaint involving the 2003 Lincoln Towncar is scheduled for a hearing on Dec. 11 at the Will County Courthouse.