Ford Escape Faces Joliet Police Forfeiture, Female Owner Wasn't In Car During Incident

JOLIET, IL — Because of the actions of 20-year-old Joliet criminal defendant Ramiro Rodriguez, who spent two days in the Will County Jail following his Joliet police arrest, a woman in the Plainfield area may lose her 2009 Ford Escape as a forfeited asset to the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow.

A forfeiture hearing in front of Will County Judge Brian Barrett will take place on Dec. 10 involving the Ford Escape owned Angelica Campos DeBarrios of Hastings Drive in the Plainfield area. Court documents indicate she faces the prospect of losing her Ford Escape because Rodriguez was arrested by Joliet police for the crime of aggravated fleeing and eluding police.

According to the forfeiture filing from last week: on Sept. 29, Joliet police officers Fitzgerald and Santiago were called to the 400 block of 4th Avenue for a fight about to happen. On their way to the call, they saw a 12-year-old boy running like he was scared. He told them he was in the area near the fight when a gray car pulled up and pointed a gun out the window.

Moments later, the Joliet officers spotted the 2009 Ford Escape heading west on Whitley Avenue, then south on Wilson Avenue. The car drove through the stop sign at 3rd and Miller Avenue and sped off at a high rate of speed, court documents indicate. Eventually, Joliet Police Sgt. Nick Giordano saw the car turn north on Union Street and he saw two people walking in the 100 block of Union.

Officers Fitzgerald and Santiago recognized the two male pedestrians as passengers from the fleeing Ford Escape, court files indicate. Although the two were ultimately let go by the Joliet police, the officers noticed Ramiro Rodriguez emerge from behind a house on Akin Avenue; he was detained and more officers arrived on the scene. The Ford Escape was located in front of a house in the block of Arizona Street and Joliet police had the car towed away.

"Sergeant Giordano reviewed his dash camera which showed Ramiro Rodriguez in the driver's seat ... A LEADS check revealed Ramiro Rodriguez has a suspended driver's license and an active warrant for failure to appear," the forfeiture complaint outlined.

Although Rodriguez was arrested for aggravated fleeing and eluding, no other arrests were made as the officers did not find any guns or any victims, the forfeiture pointed out.

"Ramiro Rodriguez advised he was the driver and fled because the passengers told him to, and he had a BB gun and threw it out the window in the area of Union Street and Washington Street," the complaint noted.

Rodriguez spent about 20 hours in the Will County Jail before obtaining his release around supper time Sept. 30. He comes from the 100 block of Zurich Road. He also spent time in the Will County Jail following two other Joliet police arrests on June 17 and again on Aug. 29.