Random Attack, Woman On Bicycle Hit With Broomstick: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — A woman riding her bicycle with her two children late Friday night was beaten and punched repeatedly by 27-year-old Bethel Drive resident James Gardner after he yelled for her to be quiet, according to Joliet police reports.

The attack appears random, according to Police Sgt. Dwayne English.

Gardner is now in the Will County Jail, charged with aggravated battery. He lives in the 700 block of Bethel. The injured woman was attacked around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

She was riding a bicycle along with her children in the 400 block of Kungs Way, which is off Black Road on Joliet's west side.

After Gardner yelled at her to be quiet, the woman turned around and that's when Gardner clubbed her multiple times with the plastic broomstick he had in his hand, English said.

When the woman fell to the ground, Gardner continued to unleash his rage, punching her several more times in the head, police reports show.

The two children ran away from the scene of the attack, and Joliet police were summoned.

That night, Gardner was found at his place in the 700 block of Bethel Drive, and he confessed to attacking the woman, English indicated.

The woman suffered a laceration to her left eyebrow, her face was swollen and she suffered bruises to her legs, police said.

A Joliet Fire Department ambulance was summoned to Kungs Way, but the victim refused to go to the hospital, according to police.

As for Gardner, he remained in the county jail on Monday, unable to post 10 percent of his $150,000 bail, jail logs reflect.