Suspicious Person At Home Cut Donuts, 2 Arrests Overnight: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A pair of Joliet men, one younger and the other older, were taken into custody overnight by Joliet police in connection with allegations of reckless driving, fleeing the police and having cocaine in their possession.

Officers found 27-year-old Alex Hartell at his house on Reed Street and released him from custody on a notice to appear for charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer and reckless driving. Hartell's associate, 55-year-old Michael Ambrose, was arrested earlier, and he received his notice to appear at the Will County Courthouse on charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the following events began on Monday night and led to the pair of arrests taking place overnight:

At 8:25 p.m., Joliet police were called to the parking lot of Home Cut Donuts at 815 West Jefferson Street for a suspicious person. A Chevrolet Silverado pulled into the parking, a man exited the truck and tried to pull open the locked door of an occupied vehicle in the Home Cut Donuts parking lot, according to English.

As Joliet police responded to the business, officers saw the Chevrolet Silverado leaving the parking lot westbound on Jefferson Street at a high rate of speed and striking a curb.

The driver refused to stop and continued driving recklessly at a high rate of speed. Officers did not pursue the vehicle.

Later into Tuesday morning at 1:27 a.m., Joliet police found the same Chevrolet Silverado parked at the Crest Hill McDonald’s at 1704 Plainfield Road and someone was inside.

As Ambrose exited the truck, Joliet police recovered cocaine and paraphernalia near the driver seat and center console, arrest reports show.

Ambrose was arrested, and the Chevrolet was towed from the scene.

During the overnight investigation, Joliet police identified Hartell as the original driver of the Chevrolet Silverado when it sped away from the parking lot of Home Cut Donuts.

At approximately 1:40 a.m., Joliet police found Hartell at his house in the 500 block of North Reed Street and placed him into custody without incident.