He Stole Her Gun, Jumped In A Stranger's Car, Then Tried To Outrun Joliet Police Giving Chase: Police

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department issued a press release on Thursday to announce this week's capture of Lois Place apartment resident Kalen Stallings on a staggering number of criminal charges.

According to police agency spokesman Dwayne English, at 6:33 p.m. Monday, officers responded to an apartment in the 1000 block of Lois Place for a theft. Stallings had stolen a handgun owned by his ex-girlfriend from a closet during an argument, English said.

During a search of the area, the officers found Stallings in the rear seat of a running Kia Sportage in the parking lot. Stallings ignored orders and climbed into the front seat and drove away from the officers, English said.

"It was alleged that Stallings had stolen the keys to the Kia from the same apartment where he had stolen the handgun. The handgun was recovered from the Kia following Stalling’s arrest," English said.

As officers tried to stop him, police say Stallings abandoned the Kia and continued to run through the residential complex until he was found the parking lot of the 1800 block of Asbury Circle. There, the officers discovered Stallings inside a stranger's Hyundai Elantra to further avoid arrest, police revealed. Stallings did not know the male occupant of the car.

Stallings eventually exited the Hyundai and continued to run until eventually stopping and being placed into custody without further incident, English said.

Stallings was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department after he reported an illness at the Joliet Police Department. At the hospital, he was found in possession of suspected cocaine. Upon his release from the hospital, Stallings was processed at the Joliet Police Department and taken to the Will County Jail, where he remained on Thursday.

Joliet police said that Stallings is now charged with armed violence, being an armed habitual criminal, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of a stolen gun, aggravated unlawful possession of weapon, motor vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft, criminal trespass to vehicle, possession of controlled substances, fleeing and eluding a peace officer, resisting arrest and driving while license suspended.