Police: Joliet man arrested after refusing to leave Checkers restaurant

JOLIET – A Joliet man was allegedly adamant about remaining at a Checkers restaurant despite being told to leave, and was arrested as a result, police said.

On Monday afternoon, the manager of the Checkers at 441 E. Cass St. called the cops after repeatedly telling Ricardo Sarmiento, 22, of the 800 block of Julia Avenue, to leave the restaurant because he was not wanted there, said Joliet Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory.

When police officers arrived, they found Sarmiento in the parking lot of Checkers, Gregory said. The officers told him he was not wanted at the restaurant, he said.

Sarmiento walked east on Cass Street but then turned around and walked back west, headeding for the front door of Checkers, Gregory said. Then he allegedly tried to enter the restaurant again.

Officers arrested Sarmiento. He was charged him with criminal trespass to property and later released on his own recognizance.

Sarmiento had a previous run-in with the law on Sept. 19 when he was arrested and charged for disorderly conduct because he allegedly threatened to shoot someone over not getting a job with Filtration Group, 912 E. Washington St.

Police said he allegedly threatened in Spanish that he might come back with a gun and “shoot that gringo.”

Sarmiento was also charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass property when on Aug. 21 he allegedly entered Gonzales Supermarket at 652 Collins St. and began inexplicably chopping up meat behind a store counter.

A no stalking order was filed against Sarmiento Tuesday but a Will County judge dismissed it because the burden of proof was not sustained.