Driver Of Ford Escape Tries To Run People Over At Joliet's Riverwalk Homes Apartment Units: Police

JOLIET, IL — A strange set of events unfolded on Sunday evening just before the sun went down at the Riverwalk Homes Apartments, resulting in the arrest of 37-year-old Vernon Jones, who hails from Lockport.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 7:55 p.m., the officers responded to the Riverwalk Homes Apartments at 358 North Broadway for a man driving a Ford Escape possibly attempting to strike multiple people with a vehicle.

English said the responding officers were advised that people had reportedly been struck. Upon arrival, officers found the Ford and its driver, Vernon Jones, age 37, of Lockport, in the 300 block of Bluff Street. Officers attempted to speak with
the people reportedly struck by the vehicle; however, they were uncooperative and refused to provide identifying information.

Officers also learned that Jones had allegedly struck a fence
with his vehicle and had been involved in a physical altercation with other unknown people following the crash, English pointed out.

During the investigation, officers saw signs of possible alcohol intoxication and Jones refused to undergo field sobriety tests. He was then placed into custody. He was charged with
DUI and reckless driving. Jones was also cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to report accident to police authority, leaving the scene of an accident Involving damage to attended vehicle,
and failure to carry license on person while operating a motor vehicle.

Jones’s vehicle was also towed from the scene.

Meanwhile, Jones was taken to St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department for a minor injury sustained during the incident before police arrival. After his release from the hospital, Jones was processed at the Joliet Police Department and released on a notice to appear in court.