Missing Man Punches Joliet Police At Iron Works Historic Site: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A 21-year-old missing man from Kansas City, Missouri is now in the Will County Jail for an indefinite period of time after he punched one Joliet police officer and his other punches missed striking a second officer, arrest reports show.

The out-0f-state traveler, Valentin Bassham, is charged of aggravated battery to a peace officer, two counts of aggravated assault to a peace officer, resisting a peace officer, obstructing justice and trespassing on railroad property.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the incident resulting in the Kansas City man's arrest happened around 7:50 a.m. on Sunday, Jan 21.

According to English, the following events led to Bassham's arrest and continued incarceration:

• Officers were sent to 75 Columbia St. near the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site to locate a man missing from Kansas City. The missing man's family had pinged his phone to this location.
• At the Iron Works site, Joliet police found Bassham inside a Toyota 4 Runner parked near a railroad building on the property of BNSF Railroad. The railroad employees had told Bassham he was trespassing and needed to leave, but he refused.
• Officers saw Bassham sitting in the back seat of the running vehicle, which was locked. There, police said he refused to acknowledge the officers and refused to open the doors.
• Eventually, police said, Bassham let the officers know that he wanted water. When officers retrieved a bottle of water to drink, Bassham opened the rear driver’s side door, and tried to quickly close the door.
• An officer blocked the door from closing, and grabbed Bassham’s arm as the Kansas City man tried to pull away.
• Bassham then punched the officer in the mouth, according to police, and he exited the rear passenger’s side and then took another swung at a second officer and missed.
• Officers took control of Bassham, and he was placed into custody without further incident, police said.
• At the police station, Bassham refused to cooperate with booking procedures and he tried to punch a third officer, but he missed, according to police.

Officers notified Bassham’s family regarding the missing person report and that Bassham is now staying in Will County's Jail.