Loaded Gun Found After Larkin Ave. High-Speed Chase: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A 21-year-old woman with addresses in both Joliet and Crest Hill is now in the Will County Jail after Joliet police arrested her for having a loaded gun following a high-speed chase on Larkin Avenue, according to police.

Joliet police listed Ashanti Duncan as a Crest Hill resident. She was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of ammunition and obstructing a peace officer.

Around 12:35 a.m. Sunday, Joliet police tried to stop a car for speeding in the 300 block of North Larkin Avenue, but the driver chose not to stop, and a police pursuit began, police reports show.

A few moments later, police found the car unoccupied with the engine running in the 2100 block of Capri Avenue. Officers learned from an eyewitness that a woman ran from the car through their yard.

Joliet police brought out a K9 to track the suspect's whereabouts, "at which time Duncan was located hiding behind a residence in the 2100 block of Capri Avenue," police spokesman Dwayne English announced.

Joliet officers recovered a loaded 9 mm handgun on the ground where Duncan was located, English stated.

She was identified as the passenger in the vehicle. This case is still under investigation, Joliet police noted.

Will County Jail records listed Duncan as residing in the 0 to 100 block of East Zarley Road in Joliet. Her bail was set $30,000.

Duncan was the subject of a November Joliet Patch article headlined, "Hampton Inn Parking Lot Fight: 1 Woman Sent To Hospital."

Patch reported that Duncan was arrested after a fight broke out outside the Hampton Inn on Mall Loop Drive. Two people were attacked by 21-year-old Ashanti Duncan, and one of them was taken to the hospital, according to police.