Cops: Cracked Windshield Led to Bathroom Brawl

Shorewood Police noticed a large crack in the windshield of a white 1994 Nissan Sentra last night. That is what started the ruckus at Walgreens Tuesday night that resulted in to take down the driver.

Steven Stewart Velazquez, 40, of 8114 Bluestem Ave. in Joliet was driving the Nissan through Shorewood, according to Chief Robert Puleo. The cops saw a crack running the entire length of the windshield. There were also two objects hanging from the rearview mirror, apparently obstructing the view through the cracked windshield.

Officer Dan Dougherty and Sgt. Jason Barten pulled Velazquez over in the parking lot of the Walgreens at Jefferson Street and River Road to investigate the apparent equipment violations, Puleo said. The officers then discovered Velazquez was allegedly driving with a revoked license. 

The police gave Velazquez numerous commands to come to the back of the vehicle. He ignored them and went into the store, Puleo explained.

Joliet residents Robert and Jacob Troyer witnessed the stop. 

"The cop told (Velazquez) to get against the vehicle and he refused," said Robert Troyer.

Dougherty and Barten located Velazquez in the restroom and called for backup. After Officer Jason Henson arrived, the three cops told Velazquez he was under arrest.

"(Velazquez) resisted," Puleo said. "Police used force necessary to effect the arrest."

A photo gallery of the Shorewood cops using the "force necessary" is available .

That included using the Taser twice, Puleo said. 

"It wasn't effective, that's why they did it twice," the chief explained. "It still wasn't effective."

The police on the scene did not suspect drug use as a reason why the Taser was ineffective, Puleo said. Many variables could have contributed to the weapon's failure. 

"Maybe it is possible that the probes from the Taser didn't enter his body," the chief said. "There are so many variables involved for various reasons."

Velazquez was charged with resisting or obstructing a peace officer, driving with a revoked license, and equipment violations. He was also charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, which is a felony.

"This was a full-blown situation where (the police) had to wrestle with the individual to get him to comply," Puleo said.

"This didn't have to go this far," he explained. "If this guy would have listened to the police in the parking lot, it would never have happened."

Velazquez appeared in bond court Tuesday afternoon. His bond was set at $10,000, said Charles B. Pelkie, the spokesman for States Attorney James Glasgow. 

Velazquez's next appearance is scheduled June 7. That will either be a preliminary hearing or an arraignment.

Updated at 5:28 p.m.