Joliet, IL – A Joliet man faces multiple charges after police say he allegedly struck a labor picketer near an IKEA distribution facility Wednesday morning before fleeing officers and crashing into a building downtown.
According to the Joliet Police Department, officers assigned to a labor demonstration near the IKEA Distribution Center at 650 Emerald Drive observed a disturbance involving a male picketer and the driver of a Kia K4 around 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Police said officers saw the Kia being driven aggressively before it left westbound on Emerald Drive at a high rate of speed. Officers then found the picketer lying in the roadway.
The victim reported being struck by the Kia, and police said surveillance video allegedly showed the vehicle hitting the man and continuing to pursue him. The victim suffered minor injuries and was taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center.
Officers attempted to stop the Kia, but the driver allegedly fled despite police activating emergency lights and sirens.
Police said the Kia later entered downtown Joliet, traveled north on Chicago Street and ran a red light at Jefferson Street before colliding with a Buick Enclave. The Kia then struck two light poles and the front of a building.
Police identified the driver as 31-year-old Devonte Jessup of Joliet. He was taken into custody and treated for a minor injury. The Buick contained an adult driver and four passengers, with the driver and a child passenger evaluated for minor injuries.
Jessup was charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated fleeing and eluding, reckless conduct and reckless driving, along with several traffic-related offenses. He was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
The charges are allegations, and Jessup is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
