Two Arrested After Shootout Near Channahon

A man and woman have been arrested following a shootout with police near I-55 and Arsenal Road around 2:25 p.m Wednesday, July 22, according to Channahon Police Chief Jeff Wold.

The suspects have been identified as Manhattan residents Luke Bertolini, 23, and Kadi Craig, also 23.

While an earlier report stated that an armed robbery had taken place at the Big Fish Bar and Grille in Wilmington, Big Fish owner John Mathias said no robbery actually took place.

Mathias said Bertolini had come in and asked a question of his bartender and then went outside and fired a few shots in the air.

Mathias added that it was just a random man and wasn’t a past employee or a customer. He said it appeared the man may have been on drugs.

Wold said the incident was called in as an armed robbery and shots fired.

“What was reported to me was that they had one male suspect inside Big Fish Grille, fired several shots and then he left there in a yellow Monte Carlo,” Wold said. “They said a female was waiting for him in the car and they drove off.”

Police received a call for multiple shots fired at the Big Fish Grille at 2 p.m. July 22. While en route to Big Fish, officers learned Bertolini had left the scene in a yellow Monte Carlo driven by Craig. They were heading south on Will Road.

At around 2:25 p.m. a Wilmington squad car located the Monte Carlo heading northbound on I-55 from Lorenzo Road. Channahon, Shorewood, Illinois State Police and Will County Sheriff’s officers assisted as the Wilmington officer stopped the car on the Arsenal Road exit from I-55.

Bertolini then got out of his car from the passenger door with two handguns. One of the officers fired at him and he jumped over a concrete barrier falling 12 feet to the ground.

Channahon and Shorewood officers were able to apprehend to Bertolini. Wilmington police and a Will County deputy took Craig into custody.

Bertolini and Craig were taken to the Channahon Police Department for further investigation. Bertolini was then taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility pending arraignment.

Bertolini was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a firearm, reckless discharge and criminal damage to property. Craig was released without being charged.

“This is a great example of interagency cooperation to take a violent offender off the street,” Wold said in a release from the Channahon Police Department. “I am extremely proud of all of the officers that assisted and thankful nobody was injured.”