Joliet police nab man wanted on traveling to meet a child charge

A Joliet man wanted on a charge of traveling to meet a minor was arrested after he tried to flee from officers and attempted to give them a fake name, police said.

About 10 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a residence in the 1900 block of Black Road after learning Martin Marling, 37, was at the residence while he had arrest warrants charging him with traveling to meet a minor and failing to appear in court, Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English said in an email.

When officers arrived, Marling initially spoke with them but then closed the door after refusing to come out of the residence, English said.

Shortly afterward, officers went to the back of the residence and saw Marling in the passenger seat of a vehicle that drove away from the scene, English said.

Officers pulled over the vehicle near the emergency entrance of AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, English said. Officers saw Marling walk from the vehicle toward the hospital, he said.

Marling was arrested after a brief struggle as he attempted to pull away from officers, English said.

“Marling repeatedly attempted to provide a fictitious name to the officers,” English said.

Officers called for an ambulance, and Marling was taken inside the hospital for treatment.

Marling was later released and taken to the Joliet Police Department, where he gave his actual name to the officers, English said. He was later transported to the Will County jail.

A Grundy County warrant was issued for Marling’s arrest on a charge of traveling to meet a minor, English said. Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland did not respond to a call and message about the case Sunday.

The charge stemmed from a sting conducted by PredatorProof, according to the group’s founder, Joseph Baker.

Baker and independent journalist Justin Virgin took video of Marling’s arrest outside the hospital that is on Facebook.