Joilet officer suspended for 75 days from a pursuit when the suspect crashing into another motorist

[Old Story]

The driver who fled from Joliet Police Sunday night and caused a crash that blocked Route 30 at I-55 until Monday morning has been officially charged and held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility. 31-year-old Mohammed Nakhleh of Plainfield was released from the hospital on Tuesday, January 9th and has been charged with Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Peace Officer, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Cannabis, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Resisting a Peace Officer, Obstructing a Peace Officer, and Driving While License Revoked.

On January 7, 2024, at 9:51 p.m., an Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Mercedes-Benz S Class near Caton Farm Road and Pebble Beach Drive for failure to signal a turn. The driver refused to stop the vehicle and continued southbound on Pebble Beach Drive. The Officer initially pursued the vehicle, but the pursuit was quickly terminated out of a concern for safety. A short time later, an additional Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Mercedes after observing the vehicle northbound on Northwest Frontage Road from Caton Farm. The driver again refused to stop and continued northbound on Northwest Frontage Road at a high rate of speed. The Officer did not pursue the vehicle.

The Mercedes continued eastbound on Plainfield Road approaching the intersection for the southbound Interstate 55 on-ramp at which time the Mercedes collided into a Chevrolet Equinox driven by a female (26, Villa Park) that was turning left toward the southbound Interstate 55 on- ramp from eastbound Plainfield Road. Officers approached the male driver of the Mercedes and placed him into custody following a brief struggle in which the male refused to comply with commands by Officers. The male driver was identified as Nakhleh and placed into custody. Upon search of Nakhleh’s vehicle, Officers recovered suspected hydrocodone pills, cannabis, and ammunition. Eastbound Route 30 at I-55 was closed from 1 a.m. to about 7 a.m. on Monday.

The female driver and a female passenger (25, Plainfield) of the Chevrolet and Nakhleh were transported to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department in serious condition. Nakhleh was released on Tuesday. Nakhleh faces four felonies, two misdemeanors and driving while on a suspended license. His next court date is January 23rd.