Joliet Cop Hurt When Suspect Drives Into Him: Police

Joliet IL

07 April, 2022

2:23 PM

Description

JOLIET, IL — A 33-year-old Joliet resident is now in the Will County Jail after Joliet police say Joshua Gemmell accelerated his car into reverse, pinning the officer between the car and a tree. The officer was taken to Silver Cross Hospital and later released. Wednesday's incident happened around 11:20 p.m. Gemmell was charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated DUI, possession of a controlled substance and resisting a peace officer, Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English announced. Joliet police were sent to the 1200 block of Broadway Street after getting a report of a suspicious man said to be checking unoccupied vehicles in the area. The officers saw Gemmell and his 70-year-old mother in the passenger seat of a car parked on the parkway and sidewalk, English said."Officers approached the vehicle on foot and gave commands for the occupants to exit the vehicle, to which they refused," English announced. "Officers opened the driver's side door to attempt to place Gemmell into custody. Gemmell suddenly accelerated the vehicle in reverse, pinning an officer between the vehicle and a tree. Gemmell placed the vehicle in drive in an effort to flee and ran over the leg of the pinned officer with a front tire." Gemmell then sped south Broadway Street and his car hit a house in the 300 block of Hutchins Street, police said. After Gemmell ran from his car trying to out run the police, officers used a Taser to subdue Gemmell, authorities said. Gemmell had methamphetamine with him at the tine of his arrest, police announced. A Joliet Fire Department ambulance took the injured officer to Silver Cross where he was treated and later released. Gemmell was booked into the Will County Jail at 8:11 a.m. Thursday. He lives in the 600 block of Elmwood Avenue.