Man With Loaded Rifle Caught Fleeing Joliet Police: Cops

JOLIET, IL - Joliet Police officers captured a 28-year-old known gang member early Monday morning in the 600 block of Whitley Avenue after police say he jumped out of his car after officers pulled him over. The arrest of Deanthony Williamson occurred around 1 a.m. Williamson was behind the wheel of a silver Honda near the intersection of Miller and 2nd Avenue, and police say that he when he got to the stop sign, he slowed but did not come to a complete stop as he made a right-hand turn.

The Joliet squad car monitoring traffic in the area turned on its red and blue lights "and the vehicle continued for a while, then pulled over by a light pole, slightly hitting it," reports show.

At that point, Williamson decided to get out of the car and try to make a run for it; he was clutching a large weapon, reports show.

"Officers ordered Williamson to stop multiple times, and he continued to run. Officers noticed Williamson was carrying a rifle as he was being pursued on foot," reports show.

The officers continued running after Williamson, who decided to toss away the rifle before he was ultimately captured, reports reflect.

When the officers searched Williamson, they found he had ammunition "and the rifle was found to be loaded," police said.

And that's not all.

Joliet Police say they found a number of suspicious articles of clothing in Williamson's possession.

"Williamson was also found to possess a pair of black/gray baseball style gloves and a black neoprene ski mask," police reports indicate.

Williamson was put into the back seat of a Joliet squad car and delivered to the Will County Adult Detention Facility. He has been charged with a number of serious crimes:

• armed habitual criminal
• aggravated unlawful use of a weapon
• unlawful possession of a gun by a felon
• unlawful possession of a gun by a street gang member
• obstructing a police officer
• driving while license revoked
• unlawful possession of a gun/ammunition.

Joliet Police listed Williamson as living in the 600 block of Miami Street. He was booked into Will County's jail at 5:32 a.m.

He also had his mugshot taken at Will County's jail in 2012, 2015 and 2017, logs show.

Mugshot of Deanthony Williamson via Will County Sheriff