Joliet Woman Grabbed Around Neck, Could Not Breathe: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A 24-year-old Joliet resident from the Riverwalk Homes public housing complex on North Broadway Street, Demetrius Herrod, is back in the Will County Jail after Joliet police say he tried to choke a woman over the weekend.

As a result of Friday night's arrest, Herrod is facing charges of aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery. Will County Judge Victoria Breslan ruled that Herrod will not be released from detention under the SAFE-T-Act. His next court hearing is set for April 22 in Courtroom 405.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, officers were called to an apartment at Riverwalk Homes on North Broadway Street around 6:20 p.m. for Friday's domestic disturbance.

Officers learned that during an argument, Herrod pushed a woman and then choked her with both hands while they were in a bedroom, English said. The victim escaped from Herrod’s attack, and Herrod was on the scene and was placed into custody without incident, police said.

According to the Will County State's Attorney's Office, Herrod's pretrial release would pose a real and present threat to the safety of the community. Herrod attacked the woman multiple times, including a push to her body, several punches to her chest and finally, Herrod grabbed her throat with both of his hands, court records show.

The woman told Joliet police that when Herrod grabbed her neck, she could not breathe, and she felt like she was dozing off. Officers found a fresh scratch on her throat that corroborated her statements, according to prosecutors. Herrod also has a pending 2023 criminal felony case at the Will County Courthouse in which he had a switchblade knife. Herrod also has access to illegal and dangerous weapons "which could pose further risk to the victim in this matter or to the community," according to prosecutors.