Riverbrook Estates Park Bench Robbery With 'Gel Blaster': Joliet Police Capture 16-Year-Old

JOLIET, IL —The Joliet Police Department has provided details of Saturday night's arrest in the Riverview Estates subdivision involving a 16-year-old who police say displayed a weapon to steal cash from two younger juveniles as they sat on a park bench.

According to police spokesman Dwayne English, at 6:29 p.m., the officers responded to the 5400 block of Nancy Court for a robbery at a nearby park in the 1400 block of Lasser Drive.

According to police, two juveniles had been sitting on a park bench when they were approached by a 16-year-old boy. The suspect allegedly asked the juveniles if they had anything to smoke and displayed suspected cannabis, police said.

English said the suspect then asked one of the juveniles how much money he had and requested that he give him the money. When the juvenile refused, the older teen lifted his sweatshirt and displayed what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his waistband, English said.

Police said the juvenile then gave the suspect money from his wallet, and the suspect left the area.

While canvassing the area, an officer spotted a 16-year-old matching the suspect’s description near Lasser Drive and Isabel Court. The 16-year-old juvenile was detained and identified as the suspect in the robbery.

English said the officers recovered a handgun-style gel blaster from his backpack, along with suspected cannabis and multiple vaping devices. The juvenile was also found in possession of cash consistent with the amount reported stolen from the victim.

The 16-year-old was placed into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of possession of cannabis with intent to deliver. He was processed at the Joliet Police Department and transferred to the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center.