Machete-wielding man chases juvenile in Lockport preserve: cops

A Joliet man is facing misdemeanor charges after he ran toward a juvenile while wielding a machete and then used the blade to damage a cellphone, court records show.

About 7 p.m. June 23, officers with the Forest Preserve District of Will County were sent to Runyon Forest Preserve in Lockport in response to a call of up to 15 juveniles reporting that a man chased them with a machete, according to Forest Preserve District Police Chief Tracy Chapman.

Travis Fodor, 23, of the 200 block of Morgan Street admitted he chased one of the juveniles, who was on a bike, after the juvenile insulted him, Chapman said. She said she didn’t know why the juvenile insulted Fodor.

She said Fodor then used the machete to damage a cellphone that belonged to another juvenile that was left on a picnic table.

Fodor was arrested and released on his own recognizance. Chapman said Fodor was processed at the forest preserve police station and she did not have a booking photo of him.

On July 8, Fodor was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal damage to property. He entered a plea of not guilty to both charges, according to court records.

A judge ordered Fodor to have no contact with the victim in the case.

Fodor’s attorney Ryan Hejmanowski did not immediately respond to a call on Tuesday.

The 21-acre Runyon Preserve is part of the Fiddyment Creek preservation system, which conserves nearly 300 acres, according to the Forest Preserve District of Will County's website. The preserve offers one picnic shelter for rental.