Denny's Murder Defendant Sues County Jail Over Mattress

JOLIET, IL — Joshua T. Anderson, the 22-year-old Chicago man facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the April 30, 2019, deadly shooting in the parking lot of the Joliet Denny's Restaurant on Plainfield Road, has filed a civil lawsuit against the Will County Jail, Sheriff Mike Kelley, Warden Dale Santarelli and an unknown booking sergeant.

"I was denied upon request the basic hygiene items that the rule book on page 2 states should be given to inmates upon arrival: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel and no mattresses and was told to shut the f*** up, you don't need a mattress, by the correctional officer whose name is unknown," Anderson's lawsuit states. "He was white, older, looked to be around 60 with glasses. On his break he also told the correctional officer who was relieving him ... that if I asked for a mattress not to give it to me."

Anderson's lawsuit goes on to state he was put on suicide watch by the booking nurse at the time of his initial intake at the Will County Jail on May 22, 2019.

In the holding cell, Anderson's lawsuit states, "I was ordered to sleep without a mattress until I was woken up at 7 p.m. to be transferred to 10 M Pod which is the medical wing because I was on suicidal status.

"During my overnight stay in the booking area, I was not given a mattress to sleep on or a blanket to keep me warm. Due to the cold air blowing from the vent in the cell ... (I) was forced to sleep on the concrete slab which put an uncomfortable amount of pressure on my back. I was denied a mattress upon request, wasn't able to get a good rest and (woke) up sick due to the cold air and being denied a blanket."

Anderson's lawsuit also claims he was denied his right as a Will County prisoner to have toothpaste, soap and towels.

"There was also an incident where I woke up out of my sleep and explained to the correctional officer whose name is unknown that I had a dream that resulted in me ejaculating on myself in my sleep and would like to be given soap and a towel to clean myself, but I was still denied these various hygiene items," Anderson's lawsuit stated.

Meanwhile, Anderson's bail remains set at $5 million. Besides facing first-degree murder charges, the young man from Chicago faces charges of robbery and armed robbery.

On the night of April 30, 36-year-old Crest Hill resident Gregory G. Brown Jr. was gunned down by a single bullet in the parking lot of Denny's.

Prior to the slaying, Joliet police believe the homicide victim was inside the Denny's with one of Anderson's co-defendants, Bobbie Ollom, formerly of Joliet.

Acting as his own lawyer, Anderson recently filed his pro se lawsuit against the Will County Jail.

"I'm asking to be awarded for pain and suffering, compensation, and punitive damages, distress, mental, physical damage, and all injuries I'm suffering from in the amount of $100,000," Anderson's pro se lawsuit states. "The plaintiff demands that the case be tried by a jury."

In addition to Anderson, two codefendants remain in the Will County Jail awaiting their respective murder trials: Christopher C. Parker, 25, of Chicago, and Bobbie Ollom, 25, formerly of Joliet.