Video: Mayor O'Dekirk Grabs Jefferson Street Protester

JOLIET, IL —The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office of Jim Glasgow announced that the Illinois State Police will help determine whether criminal charges are warranted regarding Sunday night's incident that resulted in the arrests of two protesters on Joliet's West Jefferson Street who were involved in a scuffle with Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk.

"The Office of the State’s Attorney has requested further investigation by an independent third party agency to ensure as in all cases that the interests of justice and fairness are served," Tuesday night's statement read. "The Joliet Police Department agrees and is requesting that the Illinois State Police conduct the investigation to avoid any potential conflicts of interest and ensure a completely transparent process. As our Nation works to mend in the aftermath of George Floyd’s tragic murder, the State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to guaranteeing justice and absolute integrity in its review of this and all matters."

On Tuesday night, Brian Wielgus, owner of One More Time Sports Bar at Raynor and Theodore Streets, posted a message of strong support for the mayor's actions on his bar's Facebook page.

"It's fantastic to have a mayor with some heart that fights for his citizens," Wielgus told Joliet Patch's editor. "It's rare in this world of everyone who passes the buck. I'm proud of Mayor O'Dekirk."

Wielgus also told Patch that "everyone is criticizing this after the fact. Tell them to stop and think what would of become of our city without our mayor or the boys in blue? Who was going to be strong and brave enough to do what they did? They kicked ass, did a phenomenal job in a unprecedented situation that no one had a chance to prepare or train for period."

Earlier in the day, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk issued a statement saying he was accosted and attacked by a protester on West Jefferson Street late Sunday night, and that prompted him to grab the man and push him to the ground. At that point, several Joliet police officers got involved in the incident at the large parking lot near the Speedway gas station.

A video of the incident was posted on YouTube and has been circulated on social media.

One woman who emailed Joliet Patch a copy of the YouTube video labeled the subject in her email: "Protesters attacked by Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and JPD."

"This is unacceptable!" the woman told Patch. "There is a better way!" On YouTube, one viewer called the incident "shameful," and another commented, "the mayor is not the police (he has) no right to put his hands on someone!"

Joliet's interim city manager Steve Jones told Joliet Patch on Tuesday morning he is aware of the YouTube video involving the mayor, but Jones had no comment on the matter.

"On Sunday afternoon, I had a great discussion with peaceful protesters who are justifiably angry about the death of George Floyd and were looking to participate in building a better understanding between minority members of the Joliet community and local government," the mayor's statement read.

"On Sunday night, after the peaceful protesters had made their views known and gone home, the looters, vandals and arsonists came out in force to disgrace themselves, their families and our community," O'Dekirk said.

"As a former Joliet Police officer and as the Mayor of Joliet sworn to uphold the laws our state and city, I was on the front lines with our police officers urging anyone disturbing the peace or engaging in criminal activity to go home. The general response was a cascade of verbal abuse followed by rock, bottles, bricks, fireworks and punches being thrown at police officers attempting to protect the peaceful citizens of Joliet.

"I was confronted by a rioter, then attacked. Using standard police tactics to immobilize the attacker by separating him from the crowd and walking him backwards toward police officers, I was jumped from behind by a second attacker. They were arrested — unharmed — and are subject to a bond hearing and criminal trial. Unlike many Joliet first responders protecting Joliet that night, I was lucky enough to walk away with just a few bruises."

O'Dekirk's statement ended by saying: "As Mayor of Joliet, I am calling on all of our citizens to stand together. We all should defend the right to protest. We all should condemn the violence that is engulfing our nation and state. And we should all do our part to promote the defense of our families, our homes, our local businesses, our community, and our mutual values as Americans."

O'Dekirk was also on hand with several Joliet police officers for the three-hour-long peaceful demonstration on Monday evening near the White Castle restaurant at Larkin and Jefferson organized on behalf of the Black Lives Matter movement.

A video of Sunday night's incident involving O'Dekirk can be seen below.