Joliet Man Detained Under SAFE-T-Act's Dangerous Standard, Willful Flight Standard

JOLIET, IL —Downtown Joliet has had a reputation for dangerousness for many years, but a recent Joliet police arrest has resulted in an indefinite Will County Jail detention for 44-year-old Sherman Collins, who is charged with robbery and theft.

According to the court documents, a man who is in his 60s went to the Currency Exchange in downtown Joliet at 360 North Chicago Street on Nov. 10 when Collins took $140 cash from the man's hand. They struggled and the cash was forcibly removed from the 66-year-old victim's hand, prosecutors noted.

The cashier at the Currency Exchange witnessed the robbery and videos were recovered showing Collins wearing very distinct custom-like pants, court documents noted.

Prosecutors noted that surveillance videos showed Collins walking to 358 Broadway, the River Walk Homes apartments where he lives, after the incident.

"He was on video counting the money at River Walk Homes," prosecutors informed Will County Judge Derek Ewanic. "Sgt. Hunt observed the videos and images and identified the defendant from prior and recent contact."

On Nov. 19, Joliet police located Collins in the same area and arrested him wearing the same pants as those that were worn in the Nov. 10 robbery. He has been to prison for two felony domestic batteries from 2017 and 2014 in Will County, court files show. He also went to prison for a felony trespass to a house from 2020 in Will County.

Not only did Judge Ewanic order Collins kept in the Will County Jail under the SAFE-T-Act's dangerous and willful flight standards, the judge also indicated, "defendant placed in direct criminal contempt."

Collins will return to the Will County Courthouse later this week, on Dec. 11, for his next pretrial appearance.