Joliet Felon With Gun Parked In Handicap Spot At 7-Eleven: Cops

JOLIET, IL — Bail has been set at $350,000 for a 22-year-old Joliet convicted felon who police say had a gun inside his car as he parked illegally at a handicap parking space for the 7-Eleven at 2405 Essington Road. Outside the business, Jerrell Pugh shoved a Joliet officer as Pugh tried to get back to his car, police reports show.

The incident that led to Pugh's arrest happened around 1:20 a.m. Monday.

Pugh was later booked into the Will County Jail on charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, defacing identification marks on a gun, unlawful possession of ammunition, no FOID, aggravated battery to a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest.

According to police, a Joliet officer working the overnight shift spotted a car parked in the handicap spot of the 7-Eleven on Essington Road without a handicap placard. When the officer approached the car, he saw a gun on the driver's seat floorboard, police said.

Moments later, Pugh emerged from the 7-Eleven, and when the officer tried to talk to him, Pugh "shoved past an officer to enter his vehicle," police said.

A struggle ensued with the officer at the time of Pugh's arrest, police said.

"Officers recovered the firearm from the vehicle and determined that the serial number appeared to be defaced," Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English announced.

Pugh lives in the 400 block of Doris Avenue, on Joliet's east side, jail logs show.