Joliet Gang Members Tried to Intimidate, Recruit Students Near Joliet Central HS: Police

JOLIET, IL — Four Joliet gang members were arrested Wednesday afternoon after they were allegedly intimidating and trying to recruit students near Joliet Central High School.

Three men and one male juvenile were hanging around the parking lot of a barber shop located at 301 E. Cass St., which is right across the street from Joliet Central, Joliet Deputy Chief Ed Gregory said.

“These guys have been hanging around the parking lot in their gang colors in an effort to either recruit or intimidate the students when they’re getting released,” Gregory said.

The men, Darnell N. Prince, 18, of the 1300 block of Richmond St.; Rakeem M. Venson, 20, of the 500 block of Chase; Nicholas J. Ward, 21, of the 1000 block of Garfield in Lockport; and a 17-year-old juvenile were all charged with criminal trespass to property.

Gregory said officers have been keeping an eye on the area and made an arrest at 2:58 p.m. Wednesday when police did a protective sweep of the area.

“They only reason it’s trespass and not intimidation is that at the time they were on the property but the officers didn’t see them actively engage in any type of intimidation toward the students,” Gregory said. “But we all know what’s going on.”

The presence of the men is intimidating to the students because they throw up gang signals. They also get in physical engagements with the kids, Gregory said. While that didn’t happen Wedensday, it’s been known to happen in the past.

“If you’re a regular kid, it’s intimidating. It’s a recruitment type thing. We’re trying to corral that before it does happen,” Gregory said.

Although the men operate under a gang name, Gregory said he did not want to give it out and give the men and their gang press.

Photo 1: Rakeem M. Venson. Photo 2: Nicholas J. Ward. A photo of Darnell N. Prince was unavailable. (Photos courtesy of the Will County Sheriff's Office)