SUV hits motorcyclist

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP -- A man riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a person driving a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer, state police said.

The driver of the Trailblazer, William Marrs, of Downers Grove, was driving northbound on Route 53 and the motorcyclist was driving southbound on Route 53 around 12:54 p.m. Marrs was turning onto Coal City Road, when he hit the motorcyclist, said Sgt. Scott Angus of the Illinois State Police.

The motorcyclist who is not being identified at this time was transported to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for multiple fractures and head injuries. The accident is still under investigation.

JOLIET -- Wielding a 12-inch butcher knife, a black, heavy-set female robbed Kitchen Ware, 260 Ruby St., on Friday night, police reported.

The woman took cash, cell phones, purses and wallets from the workers during the armed robbery. The victims said the suspect walked in at about 8 p.m. and announced, "This is a robbery."

The suspect is described as 5-feet-4, 170 pounds, wearing a black puffy coat with fur around the hood, black jeans and a red shirt.

JOLIET -- A McDonough Street bridge tender hit the floor of the bridge house after hearing cracks that he believed were gunshots Friday night.

While checking the building for damage, the 44-year-old man located several rocks between a window and screen on the northeast side of the building at 300 McDonough St. The screen had been damaged by rocks going through it, police reported.

JOLIET -- Two female students were involved in a physical altercation Thursday that led to minor injuries at Plainfield South High School, 7800 W. Caton Farm Road.

A 15-year-old girl reported that another student, also 15, approached her in the hallway and struck her after they exchanged words. The victim had a scratch across her chest and under her right eye. She was treated by the school nurse, police said.

JOLIET -- Joliet police officers responded to multiple calls Friday night for shots fired in the 400 block of Nicholson Street.

When police arrived, witnesses said the shooter had a shotgun and ran back into his apartment after firing around 10:30 p.m., police said.

Police reported they talked to the suspect who said, "I fired off my shotgun." Officers recovered a Winchester 126 shotgun along with a box containing 24 shotgun shells. Police reported that the shotgun shells matched the ones found outside. John E. Lombardo , 24, of 402 Nicholson St. Apt. 2, was arrested on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm.

JOLIET -- A security officer at Joliet Central High School found an 18-year-old student to be in possession of a black knife Friday morning when the student went through a metal detector. The student gave the knife to the security officer, saying he forgot to take it out of his jacket from the previous night, police reported.

Jovan T. Griffin , 18, of 358 N. Broadway, was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass to state supported land and was sent to the dean's office.

DIAMOND -- After spotting a suspicious person looking into a home Friday afternoon, residents in Diamond called police who discovered the person had a warrant out for his arrest for a previous burglary.

After describing the suspect, someone recognized who he was and deputies discovered there was a $25,000 warrant out for his arrest, said Spokesman Pat Barry.

Deputies tracked down the suspect after an extensive search using canine units from Grundy County, Wilmington and Will County. Officers from Braidwood and Will County Sheriff's police helped in the search.

Officers tracked down the suspect to a trailer park on Arlington Road in Diamond, Barry said.

Nicholas S. Findlay , 20, of 25765 Des Plaines River in Wilmington, was arrested by sheriff's police and booked into Will County jail Friday for failing to appear on an arrest warrant.

• Michael J. Hutcherson , 22, of 7314 S. Morgan St. in Chicago, was arrested by sheriff's police and booked into the county jail Tuesday on charges of battery, possession of cannabis and criminal trespassing.

• Eric D. Thurman , 27, of 1222 W. 108th Place in Chicago, was arrested by sheriff's police and booked into the county jail Tuesday on a charge of driving on a revoked or suspended license.