My Officers Acted With Compassion, Urgency To Assist Mr. Malito And Save His Life: Chief

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department and Police Chief Bill Evans are going on the offensive, two days after being harshly criticized by Joliet Democrat State Senator Rachel Ventura regarding the body camera video showing the events leading to the death of 39-year-old Joliet native David Malito on Christmas Day.

Three Joliet police officers initially responded to the Shell gas station on Larkin Avenue around 4:25 a.m. where they encountered Malito in a delirious state of mind. He claimed someone was chasing after him trying to kill him, when no such person existed. Minutes later, in the Shell parking lot, Malito began foaming at his mouth, and he became unconscious.

A Joliet Fire Department ambulance arrived at the Shell moments after Joliet police deployed Narcan on Malito in an effort to revive him.

He died at St. Joe's hospital less than an hour later.

In Thursday's press release, Senator Ventura declared, “As the local Senator, I’m committed to helping find resources and identify additional or alternative training in hope of never seeing one of these videos again and to restore the public’s trust in our police department. Like so many others, I have questions about what has happened."

On Saturday night, Police Chief Bill Evans posted the following statement on the Joliet police Facebook page.

"I want to clarify and address recent public comments and mischaracterizations about David Malito’s tragic death on December 25, 2024. On behalf of the Joliet Police Department, I extend my condolences to Mr. Malito’s family and friends. Any loss of life is a tragedy, and we recognize the pain that accompanies losing a loved one.

"In the early morning of December 25, 2024, Mr. Malito made three 911 calls, reporting an armed individual trying to harm him. He was in distress and yelling, making it hard for dispatchers to understand, but they determined he was at the Shell gas station at 401 South Larkin Avenue. All three calls were abruptly disconnected.

"Officers were immediately dispatched to the Shell gas station, and they arrived within three minutes of the initial 911 call, with information about a possible armed individual. They found Mr. Malito inside the store, alone, sweating profusely, and exhibiting erratic behavior. The responding officers quickly suspected that he may have been under the influence of an unknown substance and in need of professional medical care. They called for an ambulance three minutes after their arrival."

According to Evans, a person under the influence of an unknown substance may not be in control of their actions, may unknowingly harm themselves, may become a danger to the public, and may resist or even harm the paramedics who are seeking to provide care.

"During the encounter, Mr. Malito appeared to physically resist the officers’ attempts to assist him, pulling away and ultimately falling to the ground. He was then handcuffed to prevent injury to himself, or others based upon his agitated and unpredictable behavior until the ambulance arrived and the next steps could be taken," Evans explained.

"Officers used two sets of handcuffs linked together, a common adjustment used when an individual’s size, medical condition, or physical distress requires additional space behind the back to avoid undue pressure to an individual’s body. After it was discovered that Mr. Malito had lost consciousness, officers immediately repositioned his body and administered Narcan, which briefly revived him. Mr. Malito was removed from handcuffs and Joliet Fire Department paramedics arrived within five minutes of being called to the scene to take over life saving measures. Unfortunately, Mr. Malito would later be pronounced deceased at a local hospital.

"A thorough and independent investigation conducted by the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force, along with findings from the Will County Coroner’s Office, determined that Mr. Malito’s cause of death was from cocaine toxicity. The Will County State’s Attorney Office reviewed the case and found no evidence of wrongdoing or misconduct by the Joliet Police Department officers involved.

"Multiple body worn and squad camera videos of this incident were released to two media outlets pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. This footage was redacted as Mr. Malito was never charged with any crime and to extend privacy and compassion to his family.

"My officers face unpredictable and emotionally charged situations daily, and I support their unwavering commitment and courage to provide the highest quality of police services that this city expects and deserves. My officers respond to crimes, mental health emergencies, addiction crises, and unknown threats, often with incomplete information. These are the realities of modern policing, and those who wear the badge know they may face such challenges at any time. The video and forensic evidence in this case clearly indicate that my officers acted with compassion and urgency to assist Mr. Malito and try to save his life.

"While I welcome and expect a healthy dialogue from our community about incidents that my officers handle, these conversations should be rooted in fact. Making public comments without considering the full context of the evidence and disregarding the findings of an independent investigation is irresponsible and dangerous. Such statements can erode public trust, misinform community members, and unfairly judge my officers who face extraordinarily difficult circumstances daily.

"The Joliet Police Department remains committed to our city and will always work in unison with our community."