Man Shot By Joliet Police Faces Felony Charge

Joliet IL

05 February, 2021

4:51 PM

Description

JOLIET, IL — The 29-year-old Joliet man who police say pulled the trigger on a BB gun that fired air and was subsequently shot three times by a Joliet officer has been charged with a felony offense. The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow has charged Cordairel "Cord" Whitmore with aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony. Last week, authorities announced Whitmore was hospitalized at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center where he was alert and in stable condition. Romeoville Police Chief Ken Kroll told Joliet Patch that Joliet police went to the house in Joliet's Cunningham Neighborhood after "a neighbor called in a disturbance." That morning, on Jan. 28, Whitmore was shot by the Joliet police officer standing on his front porch, in the 1200 block of Nicholson Street. Whitmore lives at the house with his mother. According to Thursday's criminal complaint, Whitmore "knowingly engaged in conduct which placed" Joliet police officer Brian Lanton "in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery" in that Whitmore displayed a BB gun, "knowing Brian Lanton to be a peace officer performing his official duties." Lanton is the Joliet officer who shot Whitmore, Patch has learned. Lanton has been on the Joliet police force since the spring of 1999. As of Feb. 5, Whitmore has not been booked into the Will County Jail, according to jail logs. Whitmore is on the mend at St. Joe's hospital, where he has been able to walk around his hospital room during his recovery process, sources told Patch. Both he and his mother have been excellent tenants since they moved into the house in 2019, according to downtown Joliet lawyer Dan Kallan, the owner of the rental property. Relatives of Whitmore told Joliet Patch last week that Whitmore has had significant mental health issues and the Joliet Police Department was well aware of those. Meanwhile, a bench warrant has been issued for Whitmore's arrest upon his release from the hospital. Bail has been set at $100,000. In other words, Whitmore will need to come up with $10,000 cash to regain his freedom while his felony charges are pending at the courthouse.