Teen Arrested with Handgun in Motor Vehicle Theft in Will County

On Monday afternoon, Will County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a home on the 13000 block of Danbury Drive in Plainfield Township regarding a stolen vehicle. The owner of a 2008 Dodge Ram stated that around 1:00 pm she went out to start her vehicle to warm it up. Ten minutes later she observed two male teens, one Hispanic and one black, enter her vehicle and drive off.

While deputies were traveling to the residence, they were advised that the vehicle had been seen in the area of Airport Road and Frontage Road in Romeoville. During a search of the vehicle, a deputy then observed the vehicle on Old Renwick Road and Trading Post Lane and attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop for deputies but spun out and came to rest in a ditch.

A single occupant, the Hispanic male driver, then took off on foot. Sheriff’s deputies, along with a K9, and Joliet Police officers, began a search of a nearby field and wooded area. The 16 year-old male subject (Romeoville resident) was located and was found with a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun on his person. He was taken into custody and invoked his rights to an attorney. He was transported to River Valley Juvenile Justice Center and was charged with motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, unlawful use of a weapon, and no valid FOID card. He was also being held on two outstanding warrants. The Dodge Ram was eventually returned to its owner.

The subject also was found with a Buick car key and a Jeep car key. Those keys are related to car thefts in Joliet and Plainfield from late January and early February respectively. Additional charges may be filed.