Man Tries To Steal Car, Victims Fight Back: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — A 31-year-old Plainfield area man is now in the Kendall County Jail after Joliet police say he ordered two people to give him their car Tuesday night while claiming he had a gun hidden under his shirt.

The crime happened in the 7400 block of Windstone Court, which is in the Kendall County portion of Joliet. Joliet police responded to the disturbancce call and arrested Nicholas O’Neill, who lives in the 6900 block of Great Falls Drive, on charges of attempted felony theft, aggravated assault, plus two DuPage County failure to appear warrants involving DUI and assault, and one Will County warrant involving an assault charge.

The incident involving O'Neill happened around 9:50 p.m.

"Officers learned that O’Neill had approached a couple who were unloading items from their vehicle," Joliet police reports show. "O’Neill demanded their vehicle keys and vehicle while advising them that he had a gun, holding his hand under his shirt to give the appearance as if he was armed."

As O’Neill entered the couple's car to search for their ignition key, the victims attacked O'Neill and removed him from their vehicle, police reports show.

O'Neill tried to run away before "officers checking the area located O’Neill hiding on the ground along a fence in the rear of the residence, and he was taken into custody," police said.

During the handcuffing process, O'Neill grew ornery, and he tried to headbutt an officer in an attempt to escape, police said. However, he was not able to get away and officers transported O’Neill to the Joliet Police Department for booking and then to the Kendall County Jail, police said.

Bail was set by a Kendall County judge at $20,000 for O'Neill, jail records in Yorkville show.