March 29, 2024
Local News

Joliet man put officer in headlock, bit doctor's hand: cops

A Joliet man put an officer responding to a disturbance in a headlock, bit another officer in the leg and bit the hand of a doctor while he was hospitalized for injuries suffered during his arrest, police said.

About 11:20 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to the 300 block of South Raynor Avenue for a disturbance, Joliet police said.

The officers arrived and determined that Love Walker Jr., 39, of Joliet was involved in a verbal altercation with neighbors and walked toward them “in an aggressive manner,” police said.

When officers intervened, Walker attempted to run into his residence, ignored multiple commands to stop and attempted to push past an officer, police said.

The officer attempted to place Walker in custody, but Walker attempted to pull away, which led to a struggle, police said.

“During the struggle, Walker placed the officer in a headlock,” police said. “An arriving officer on scene then deployed a taser on Walker, and he was placed into custody without further incident.”

An ambulance from the Joliet Fire Department was called to the scene, as Walker suffered injuries while he struggled with the officers, police said. Walker was taken to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

“While being treated at the hospital, Walker bit the hand of an emergency room doctor, causing serious injury,” police said.

Walker was released from the hospital a short time later.

Police said Walker continued to be “noncompliant and belligerent toward officers” while he was at the hospital. He refused to enter a police vehicle for transport to the Joliet Police Department and continued to resist officers, police said.

“While Walker was still on a hospital gurney, he bit the leg of an officer, causing minor injury,” police said.

Walker was taken to the Will County jail after he refused to cooperate with booking procedures at the Joliet Police Department, police said.

Walker has been on parole since Dec. 13, 2019. He was convicted of criminal trespass to a residence in Will County and aggravated assault in DuPage County.

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver covers crime and courts for The Herald-News