Grundy County, IL – A Braceville man was arrested Monday night after a hit-and-run crash involving property damage, then taken back into custody hours later in connection with alleged damage to county buildings, according to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded at approximately 9:21 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, to a reported hit-and-run crash in the 400 block of North 5th Street in Braceville. A residential mailbox had been struck, and the vehicle left the scene without providing information.
Investigators located debris believed to be from a pickup truck’s side mirror and reviewed nearby security video, which showed a gray pickup striking the mailbox before leaving the area. During the investigation, deputies responded to a separate call in the 400 block of David Drive, where they located a gray Ram 1500 pickup with damage consistent with the crash.
Authorities identified the driver as John Johnson, 52, of Braceville, who was arrested for failure to give information after damaging property and for driving under the influence of alcohol. Police reported a breath test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.177. Johnson was issued citations and released from the Grundy County Jail on a notice to appear.
Later, at approximately 12:31 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2026, deputies were notified of another incident involving Johnson following his release. According to officials, surveillance video allegedly shows Johnson throwing a landscape brick multiple times at the front door of the Sheriff’s Department, damaging the glass. He then allegedly threw the same brick at a window near the jail entrance, causing additional damage.
Johnson was located, taken back into custody, and charged with criminal damage to state-supported property. The extent of the damage remains under assessment, and additional charges are under review. He was detained pending a detention hearing.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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