Crime & Safety
Sex Assault Outside Joliet Apartment Building Leads To Arrest
Officers met with a 32-year-old woman and learned she was attacked by a male suspect, later identified as Johnson, authorities said.
JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department announced that 31-year-old Erin Johnson of Crest Hill is now being kept in the Will County Jail on charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault and an Illinois Department of Corrections Parole Violation Warrant. Johnson also committed a second random crime that same morning that resulted in battery and assault charges, according to the arrest reports.
"It is believed that Johnson did not know either victim," Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English announced.
English said the first crime, the violent sexual assault, happened around at 4:50 a.m. on Saturday.
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According to English, officers responded to the 400 block of Bluff Street and met with a 32-year-old female victim and learned she was attacked by a man, later identified as Johnson, after she arrived at the building.
Johnson approached the victim as she was waiting outside and began to argue with her. Johnson then struck the victim in the face multiple times, English said. The victim then ran to the side of the building and entered through an emergency exit door. Johnson chased her into the building and struck her again, causing her to fall to the ground, and began choking her, according to police.
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Police said Johnson sexually assaulted the victim while she was on the ground. The victim was able to escape from Johnson, and he ran from the area.
The victim was taken to St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department.
A short time later, at 5:38 a.m., the officers responded to a house in the 900 block of Summit Street for a battery.
According to English, officers determined that Johnson was outside and began yelling racial slurs at the man who lived there and attempted to strike the resident in the face but missed. Police said Johnson then spat on the victim and tried to run away but was detained by neighbors for the officers.
Johnson was placed into custody and police identified him as the suspect in the sexual assault on Bluff Street.
Johnson comes from the 2300 block of Parkrose Street, over in Crest Hill, the arrest reports show.
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