Long Time Joliet Criminal Throws Loaded Gun From Car: Police

JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department's traveling SWAT team has arrested long-time Joliet criminal Erik Hernandez again, this time, the 42-year-old citizen is accused of throwing his loaded gun from his vehicle that had illegally tinted windows, the arrest report noted.

Hernandez is back in the Will County Jail and his latest criminal charges are: unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon and illegally tinted driver windows.

Joliet police spokesman Tizoc Landeros said at about 5:30 p.m., Joliet tactical officers spotted a silver/light blue Chevrolet traveling south in the 100 block of Eastern Ave with heavily tinted windows. Erik Hernandez was the driver and the tint on the driver’s window measured darker than the allowable limit, Landeros said.

During the interaction with Hernandez, Landeros said officers saw two open alcohol containers in the center counsel. Hernandez and his passenger were asked to exit the vehicle.

During this time, a backup police officer called to the scene found a loaded handgun in the front yard of the house next to where the traffic stop was, according to police.

The handgun was in throwing distance, directly next to the passenger side of the vehicle. Hernandez and his passenger were detained, Landeros said.

The Joliet officers reviewed their in-squad camera. The video showed Hernandez make a throwing motion with his arm towards the passenger side window, Landeros said.

According to police, in the video, immediately after Hernandez makes the throwing motion, a gun is seen flying out of the front passenger window and lands in the area where the officer found it.

Hernandez was arrested and searched. The officers found an empty holster for a gun in Hernandez’s waistband. The front seat passenger was released at the scene, according to the Joliet police.

As for Hernandez, he has felony convictions in Will County for a 2003 robbery, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in 2007 and manufacturing/delivery of cocaine in 2018.