John Bays' Parking Deck Damaged By 2 Thieves: Joliet Police

Joliet IL

09 November, 2021

9:40 AM

Description

JOLIET, IL — A number of people who traveled to downtown Joliet to attend the Oct. 30 America concert at the Rialto Square Theatre had an unpleasant experience while trying to drive home. Two people damaged the gates inside John Bays' parking deck along Scott Street, and then started making the guests pay them cash to leave, according to police. As a result of a weeklong criminal investigation, Joliet police have arrested 24-year-old Jada Travis and 21-year-old Tyrese Blackwell on charges of theft. According to Joliet police, officers were called to the Scott Street parking deck, 11 East Clinton St., around 12:15 a.m. on Halloween "for a report of individuals that had damaged parking gates in the parking deck. Upon arrival, officers located two parking gate arms that appeared to be damaged." Joliet police said Travis and Blackwell had damaged the gate, but then were holding the gate up and taking money from drivers that were exiting the parking deck. Joliet Police detectives identified Travis and Blackwell as the suspects in this case, and on Friday, Blackwell and Travis were arrested by Joliet police. "This case remains under investigation," police spokesman Dwayne English announced. In June, Joliet Patch interviewed John Bays after he finalized a deal with the city of Joliet to acquire the Scott Street parking deck. "The cars are going to be safe now," Bays said at the time. "Everything's going to be clean. We're going to have cameras where we can video anybody that does any damage. So I think within six to eight weeks the whole parking deck will look totally different." Jada Travis, 24, of Joliet and Tyrese Blackwell, 21, of Joliet, were both arrested by Joliet police detectives on theft charges. Image via John Ferak/Patch