Dolton man shot by Joliet police jailed on drug charges

An ex-convict who was shot by the Joliet police outside the North Center Street Wendy’s was released from the hospital and taken to the Will County jail.

About 4 p.m. on Monday, William Jenkins, 38, was jailed on charges of manufacturing or delivering cocaine and violating his parole.

Jenkins’ bond was set at $500,000.

Jenkins was involved in a Nov. 16 incident that led to officers shooting him after he struck an officer with his vehicle, according to the Joliet police.

Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English said officers were attempting to arrest Jenkins after he delivered cocaine to undercover agents on multiple occasions.

The Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the shooting.

Romeoville Police Chief Ken Kroll, the task force spokesman, said the incident remained under investigation as of Tuesday. He said when the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Jenkins was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox after he was shot, English said.

The officer struck by Jenkins’ vehicle was taken to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was treated and released.

After the Nov. 16 incident, Kroll released a statement that said officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the parking lot of Wendy’s prior to the shooting.

While officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver, identified by the task force as Jenkins, put the vehicle in reverse and struck an officer, pinning him between Jenkins’ vehicle and a police vehicle.

Assisting officers arrived as the officer was struck by Jenkins’ vehicle, Kroll said. Jenkins then attempted to run over the assisting officers, he said.

“The assisting Joliet officers discharged their firearms, striking the suspect,” Kroll said.

Kroll said that Jenkins was “hit with multiple bullets and/or bullet fragments.”

Jenkins served time for burglary, residential burglary and attempted residential burglary, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records. He was released from prison May 24.

The Nov. 16 incident is the third police shooting the task force has investigated this year.

The task force is currently investigating a Nov. 6 incident where Will County deputies shot and killed 21-year-old Jabbar Muhammad at a residence in Joliet Township.

Muhammad had brandished a knife and threatened his grandfather, 70-year-old, Eldred Wells, police said.

Deputies attempted to calm Muhammad and ordered him to put the knife down, police said, but he “lunged at his grandfather with the knife, stabbing Eldred in the neck.”

Deputies opened fire and shot Muhammad “several times,” according to police, but he “continued to stab his grandfather in the neck.” Deputies then shot Muhammad some more, police said.

Kroll told The Herald-News on Nov. 9 that no members of the sheriff’s office are participating in that investigation.

“I am extremely confident that the task force, and all of the agencies involved in this case will produce a very thorough, credible and unbiased result,” Kroll said.

The task force’s investigation of Joliet police officer Brian Lanton’s non-fatal Jan. 28 shooting of Cordairel Whitmore, 30, of Joliet, determined that it was justified.

Whitmore survived the shooting and prosecutors charged him with aggravated assault about a week after the incident. Prosecutors accused Whitmore of placing Lanton in danger by displaying a BB gun. Whitmore’s case has not yet gone to trial.