Suspected Heroin, Cocaine Dealers Arrested At Joliet Travel Center

JOLIET, IL — A 33-year-old Joliet woman and her 60-year-old boyfriend are now locked away from society in the Will County Jail after Joliet police say the two were using the Pilot Travel Center on East Laraway Road to distribute cocaine, heroin and prescription pills.

It was a disturbance at the Pilot Travel Center that prompted Joliet squad cars to arrive at the truck stop around 12:25 a.m. on Monday. Derek Creal was hauled away in handcuffs on charges of possession of controlled substances, possession of controlled with intent to deliver and possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver within 500 feet of a truck stop.

His girlfriend, Samantha Saucedo-Chavez, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver within 500 feet of a truck stop, as well as aggravated assault to a peace officer and disorderly conduct.

At the Pilot Travel Center, Joliet police say Creal got into an argument with Saucedo-Chavez and she "had been throwing items out of Creal’s vehicle onto the ground and cursing at truck stop employees," police reports show.

"While on the scene, officers learned that Creal was observed dropping unknown items into the landscaping of the business prior to the arrival of officers," police spokesman Dwayne English noted. " After checking this area, officers recovered suspected cocaine, heroin and prescription pills."

Both Creal and Saucedo-Chavez were transported to the Joliet Police Department for processing. and that's where Saucedo-Chavez complained of a medical issue. A Joliet Fire Department ambulance was summoned to the Joliet Police Department.

"While being escorted to the ambulance, Saucedo-Chavez lunged at an officer, striking the officer in the chest," police reports show.

Saucedo-Chavez was taken by ambulance to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center and officers found cocaine in her possession at the hospital, police noted.

Saucedo-Chavez was released from the hospital a short time later and taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

Creal lives in the 1200 block of Wisconsin Street while Saucedo-Chavez resides in the apartment units in the 400 block of North Bluff Street, jail records show.