Stolen Semi-Trailer Of Fired Driver Found At Joliet Gas Station: Police

JOLIET — If you saw a number of Joliet police vehicles converged around the Pilot Travel Center on Laraway Road on Wednesday afternoon, the officers were at the gas station taking a 45-year-old out of state semi-trailer driver into custody on charges of motor vehicle theft and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

According to the police spokesman Dwayne English, Atlanta, Georgia native James Kinard was later released from custody after getting his notice to appear at the Will County Courthouse on his two criminal charges.

At 2:08 p.m., the officers responded to the Pilot Travel Center at 40 East Laraway Road for a stolen semi-truck that was found.

The officers learned the truck had previously been reported stolen from Chicago Heights. Kinard was previously driving the vehicle and had been terminated by the trucking company while on the road out of state, English explained.

Following his termination, Kinard was instructed by the company to return the vehicle to Illinois. Kinard drove the vehicle back to the company, but he then drove off in the truck before handing over possession of the vehicle, English noted.

The truck was tracked to the Pilot Travel Center by the company and Joliet police officers located Kinard and the truck at the Pilot Travel Center and he was placed into custody without incident.