John Thompson Arrested At His Joliet Cosmetology School: JPD

JOLIET — The 75-year-old Wilmington man who owns Joliet's Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy at 2721 W. Jefferson St. was arrested in recent days by the Joliet police force on charges of battery. The incident involved a female student who was touched inappropriately by Thompson inside his business, according to the arrest reports.

Joliet police said John Thompson was arrested and processed at the police station and then released from custody and given his notice to appear in court under the SAFE-T-Act.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 2:50 p.m. May 16, officers responded to Professional Hair Design Academy in the Stadium Plaza Shopping Center for a battery.

Officers learned that while a female hairdresser student was working with a client, it is alleged that Thompson approached the female student from behind, grabbed her waist and pressed his body against her body without her permission.

According to English, officers learned that Thompson was the owner of the academy. Thompson was at his business and placed into custody without incident at the time of the Joliet police response.