Verizon Store Robbed In Joliet, Car Chase Ends In Lemont: Cops

LEMONT, IL — Three men from Chicago are in custody after an armed robbery car chase ended in Lemont Saturday, Joliet Police said.

Tirnell Williams, 43, has been charged with armed robbery; Blaine Goodall, 27, was charged with armed robbery, aggravated unlawful restraint, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member, aggravated fleeing and eluding and possession of a stolen motor vehicle; and Tobert Walls, 44, was charged with armed robbery, aggravated unlawful restraint, armed habitual criminal, unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

The incident began in Joliet at 12:44 p.m. Saturday, when officers responded to a hold-up alarm at Verizon Wireless, 2941 W. Jefferson St., police said. Responding officers were told by staff that the store had been robbed.

According to police, two masked suspects, armed with handguns, entered the store and tied up everyone inside. The two then stole numerous iPhones, iPads and cash from the register, then left the store and fled in a waiting car. No one inside the store was injured.

Police said the car was located near Bronk Road and Theodore Street and officers attempted a traffic stop. The car did not pull over, and officers pursued the vehicle, which drove near Louis Joliet mall and got on to I-55. The car fled at a high rate of speed, and officers lost sight of it. A description of the vehicle was then give out to surrounding law enforcement agencies.

According to police, a Will County Sheriff’s deputy next located the vehicle in the 15000 block of Janas Drive in Lockport. Walls was outside the car, and ran away when the deputy confronted him. After a short foot pursuit, Walls was taken into custody. The other two suspects had fled once again in the car, but were located a short time later in the 14000 block of West Hickory Avenue in Lemont, where the car was stuck in a snow bank.

Williams, who is a paraplegic, was taken into custody inside the car without incident, police said. Goodall ran from the car and was placed into custody a short time later with the assistance of Lemont Police Department.

Williams was taken to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries which happened when the vehicle crashed into the snow bank, police said.

Two guns, along with the stolen items from the robbery, were recovered. Police said the car used in the robbery was reported stolen out of Indiana.

The three men were all taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, and all three are due in court Monday.