Violent Felon With Gun Can't Out Run Joliet Police: Officers

JOLIET, IL — A 29-year-old man was arrested Thursday by Joliet police after officers say Jason Yantz ran from them while carrying his loaded gun on the city's east side. Ultimately, Yantz was captured and for the fourth time since 2017, Yantz is back in the Will County Jail.

Now he's facing charges of armed habitual criminal, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer, and obstructing a peace officer.

Jail records indicate Yantz lives in the Pioneer Road apartments of Crest Hill, while Joliet police thought he lived in Aurora. He has lived in Joliet before.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, Yantz's arrest unfolded this way:

• At 8:50 p.m., officers tried to conduct a traffic stop on a Honda Accord near Cass Street and Collins Street for a suspended vehicle registration.
• Officers identified Yantz as the driver and Yantz refused to stop the vehicle and he fled from the officers, driving northbound on Collins Street. Officers did not pursue the vehicle.
• While the officers checked the area, they saw Yantz running in the street while holding an object in his hand near Collins Street and Irving Street.
• Officers ran after Yantz and caught up to him in the 500 block of Collins Street and placed him into custody following a brief struggle. A K9 search was conducted of the immediate area where Yantz had been placed into custody and a loaded handgun was found on the ground.
• The weapon was recovered by Joliet police. Officers found the Honda Accord that Yantz was driving near State Street and Columbia Street, and it was towed away.
• Yantz also received citations for having a suspended registration and two counts of disobeying a traffic control device.

Jason Yantz has been the subject of several Joliet Patch crime stories over the years.

Related Joliet Patch story:

Joliet Gang Member Captured With Loaded Gun: Police