Shorewood Police: Sexual Abuse Happened At Business Parking Lot On Vertin Boulevard

SHOREWOOD, IL — The Shorewood Police Department has obtained a warrant to arrest a 32-year-old Plainfield area man in connection with allegations of a sex crime that happened almost a year ago, at the business parking lot of the 300 block of Vertin Boulevard.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed charges this week against Edwin D. Cooper Jr. who comes from the 1900 block of Westmore Grove Drive, a Plainfield mailing address in the city of Joliet. Cooper is charged with criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint and three crimes of battery. All the crimes happened on Oct. 13, 2024, his arrest warrant indicated.

According to the criminal complaint, Cooper is accused of using force or threat of force against a woman, groping her and pressing his body against hers.

The second charge indicates that Cooper knowingly and without legal authority detained the woman at the parking lot in the 300 block of Vertin Boulevard. As for the battery charges, Cooper is accused of grabbing the woman about her body, kissing her about the head and groping her buttocks area.

On Tuesday, Will County Judge Art Smigielski signed the warrant authorizing Shorewood police to capture Cooper. As of Thursday evening, Cooper has yet to be arrested.