3rd DUI Arrest For Joliet Man Who Tried Hiding In Pilcher Park: JPD

JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department announced that 40-year-old Joliet resident Gary Cotton was arrested Wednesday night on third offense aggravated DUI and driving while license revoked in connection with a late night crash along Gougar Road.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the following events led to Cotton's capture on Wednesday:

• At 9:41 p.m., the officers responded to the intersection of Francis Road and Gougar Road for a report of a wreck involving just one vehicle.
• Officers found an abandoned Dodge Durango that appeared to be involved in an accident.
• Officers learned from witnesses that the Durango was westbound on Francis Road approaching Gougar Road when Cotton, the driver, disregarded the stop sign and continued into the intersection. The Durango drove over a curb on the west side of Gougar Road and hit a tree.
• Cotton was seen fleeing toward Pilcher Park.
• With the assistance of a Will County Sheriff’s Office K9, the officers searched nearby Pilcher Park. A short time later, Joliet police found Cotton, and he exhibited behaviors consistent with possible alcohol impairment.
• Joliet police noted that Cotton refused to participate in field sobriety tests, and he was taken into custody without incident. Officers learned that Cotton held two prior DUI convictions and had a revoked driver’s license for DUI.

Cotton was also cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failing to give information to owner after striking unattended property.