Romeoville man fought with officers at new Joliet Popeyes restaurant: cops

A Romeoville man was arrested after he argued with employees at the new Popeyes restaurant in Joliet and fought with officers who told him to leave the property, police said.

About 3 p.m. Wednesday, officers were in the 400 block of East Cass Street to monitor businesses in response to loitering complaints, Joliet police said in a news release.

The officers saw a disturbance in the drive-thru lane of Popeyes, 441 E. Cass St., which has an active trespass agreement with the city of Joliet, police said.

The officers said that 38-year-old Darius Blackledge was intoxicated, walking in the drive-thru lane and arguing with Popeyes employees. The officers told Blackledge to leave the property or they would arrest him for trespassing.

Blackledge refused to leave and the officers told him he was under arrest.

When the officers tried to handcuff Blackledge, he grabbed an officer around the neck, police said. The officers and Blackledge struggled and one of the officers gave open-handed palm strikes to Blackledge because he was still fighting with the officers to prevent his arrest, police said.

The officers eventually placed Blackledge into custody and took him to the police department for booking.

About 4 p.m. Wednesday, Blackledge was taken to the Will County jail. On Thursday, a judge set Blackledge’s bond at $20,000, court records show. He needs $2,000 to post bond.

The judge ordered Blackledge to have no contact with the Cass Street Popeyes.