Santa Claus Attacked In Hawk Auto, Joliet Police Make Arrest

Joliet IL

29 November, 2021

11:51 PM

Description

JOLIET, IL — Joliet police announced that a 64-year-old man from Plainfield was arrested last Friday night following an attack against a Hawk Auto Group employee dressed as Santa Claus at one of the West Jefferson Street auto dealerships. The incident unfolded around 7:25 p.m., resulting in the arrest of Peter Steinys on charges of battery and disorderly conduct. Steinys is a former Plainfield Park District commissioner. Joliet police cars were sent to the Hawk Auto Group, 2861 West Jefferson St. for a battery incident. "Officers determined that while inside of the car dealership, Steinys grew angry and began yelling at an employee," police spokesman Dwayne English announced. "Steinys then pushed an employee with both hands and then approached another employee before being separated and escorted out by his family." As the Joliet officers remained at the Hawk Auto to investigate the physical altercation, Steinys drove to the downtown Joliet police station, and he revealed to officers "that he had pushed an employee dressed as Santa after the employee had bumped into him with his Santa belly," police reports show. Steinys was taken into custody without any problems, and he was later released on an I-bond, according to police. Steinys has been the focus of several Plainfield Patch stories over the past decade. In 2013, Patch published an article headlined, "Steinys Guilty in Battery Case." The article reported that Will County Judge Joseph Polito found the Plainfield Park District commissioner guilty of battery in an election-related spat. Steinys, then 56, was accused of hitting a rival campaign volunteer with a car door, then grabbing him with both hands and attempting to punch him following a disagreement over campaign signs on the eve of the Nov. 6, 2012 election. Joliet police were called to an altercation at the Hawk Auto Group. An employee dressed as Santa Claus was the victim, according to police. Google Maps