Heroin Injections In White Castle Bathroom: Joliet Police Make Arrest

JOLIET — While hundreds of customers visit the White Castle restaurant at the busy corner of Larkin and Jefferson every day, Joliet police and the Joliet Fire Department ambulance crews responded to a heroin overdose at the fast-food restaurant last Friday.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, 35-year-old Joliet native Nathan Kilburn is now in the Will County Jail where he faces a slew of outstanding charges: two retail thefts, aggravated assault, unlawful use of a weapon, plus a Will County warrant and a Kankakee County warrant.

In connection with the White Castle incident, Kilburn received his Notice to Appear in court for charges of theft, possession of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing justice.

According to Joliet Police arrest reports, at 2:23 a.m. July 5, Joliet officers and Joliet Fire Department paramedics responded to the White Castle restaurant for a man possibly overdosing on heroin in the bathroom. Officers found Kilburn in the bathroom in possession of suspected heroin, syringes and a glass pipe used for smoking heroin.

Kilburn indicated to paramedics he had injected heroin. Upon searching Kilburn’s backpack, English said officers located multiple credit cards with different names on them.

During the investigation, English pointed out, Kilburn was also charged as a suspect in the following additional cases:

On December 22, 2023, at 3:16 p.m., officers responded to the Jewel Osco at 1401 W. Jefferson St. for a retail theft. Police said Kilburn entered the store, and concealed several boxes of batteries in a backpack, and attempted to leave the store without paying. An employee attempted to confront Kilburn about the theft, at which time officials allege Kilburn brandished a knife at the employee.

Kilburn dropped his backpack and ran from the area, police said. Officers were unable to find him at that time. Detectives investigating this case obtained an arrest warrant on Jan. 16, 2024, for Kilburn for the two counts of retail theft, unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault.

On June 12, at 6:36 a.m., officers responded to a house in the 1200 block of W. Jefferson St. for a burglary to a motor vehicle. Someone had entered a Jeep Renegade and stole a purse and wallet containing cash and credit cards.

Police said Kilburn was found to be in possession of one of the credit cards taken in this burglary while at the White Castle.

Following Friday's White Castle arrest, Kilburn was initially taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department for treatment. Officers determined Kilburn had active arrest warrants from both Will and Kankakee counties, both for retail theft. He was released from the hospital a short time later.

Kilburn refused to be processed at the Joliet police station, so he was taken to Will County Adult Detention Facility, where he now remains.

This marks Kilburn's fourth trip to the Will County Jail since 2019. The Will County Jail lists Kilburn as residing at the Walmart Supercenter, 2424 W. Jefferson St.