Hammel Woods Visitor From Joliet Must Lose His Ford Escape To Police: Forfeiture

SHOREWOOD, IL —If you visit Will County's Forest Preserves, there's a chance that one of its police officers will check your license plates to determine if it's legal for you to be driving. Joliet Patch has published numerous stories in recent years regarding people visiting Will County's Forest Preserves whose vehicles were later pursued for a civil forfeiture by the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow. This week, 45-year-old Joliet Richard Kallio, of the 900 block of Westminster Road, finds himself as the latest person facing the permanent loss of his vehicle.

A civil forfeiture case was filed Tuesday at the Will County Courthouse in hopes of making Kallio part ways with his 2009 Ford Escape.

According to the complaint, Forest Preserve Police Officer Caitlin Mosier cited Kallio last month with driving while license revoked and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in violation of Illinois laws.

On Jan. 7, the complaint outlined, Mosier was on patrol at the Hammel Woods Forest Preserve's Route 59 access when she saw the 2009 Ford Escape driving toward the exit. The vehicle registration returned to Kallio, and Mosier learned he had a revoked driver's license for a DUI, court files show.

She activated her emergency lights and sirens and pulled over the Joliet motorist. Kallio identified himself and furnished an Illinois State identification card, court documents indicate.

"Officer Mosier confirmed the revoked status with dispatch. Officer Mosier issued Richard Kallio citations for driving while license revoked and operation of uninsured motor vehicle. The ... vehicle was towed," the complaint noted.

Attorneys at the State's Attorney's Office have asked that Will County's judges declare Kallio's vehicle forfeited and order it sold at public auction, destroyed or delivered to a law enforcement agency in the state of Illinois.

The forfeiture involving Kallio's Ford Escape is set for March 25 at the courthouse.