Man Accused Of Setting Off Explosives Could Lose Car In Forfeiture Case

CREST HILL — The Will County State's Attorney's Office has set out to make the 2021 Toyota Corolla belonging to 22-year-old George Curtin as a forfeited civil asset for the police following Curtin's recent arrest by the Crest Hill police in connection with the crime of attempted stalking.

On March 5, Crest Hill responded to the 300 block of Birkey Avenue at 2:52 a.m. and they learned that Curtin had been driving the car past his ex-girlfriend's house honking his horn and yelling, court files show. "There have been multiple recent reports of George driving past the house, honking, yelling, driving in the yard and setting off explosive devices in the street."

A Crest Hill police officer spotted Curtin's 2021 Toyota Corolla driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Center Street and turning on Birkey. The vehicle was registered to Curtin and a traffic stop was made at Elsie Avenue and Broadway Street.

The officer looked into Curtin's vehicle and saw a red plastic fuel container on the front passenger floorboard and firecrackers in the center console, the complaint noted. Crest Hill police noted the recovery of two red firecrackers and the gas can with a large amount of fluid inside.

After his arrest, Curtin was interviewed by Crest Hill police and "George made statements that his actions were to intimidate and shock (her), to get her attention after a very sudden and quick betrayal and breakup," the forfeiture noted. "He admitted to detonating a few fireworks and described them as mortars that he purchased in Indiana. He also admitted that he did this multiple times over multiple days."

As for the future of Curtin's 2021 Toyoa Corolla, the Will County State's Attorney's Office has asked the judges to order it sold at public auction, destroyed or be delivered to a law enforcement agency in Illinois.