Vagrant Who Beat Up Joliet's Police Chief Isn't Mentally Sound: Judge
JOLIET, IL — During the 1990s, current Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans was an amateur boxer and one of the top Illinois middleweights, then, in late October, a Joliet vagrant, Joshua Medina, sent Evans to St. Joe’s hospital, injuring the off-duty chief during an attack outside the CUT 158 Chophouse, according to courtroom testimony.
When Joliet Patch covered Medina’a first court appearance in front of Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins, the 39-year-old Medina was constantly mumbling, talking over the judge’s instructions, during the entire court proceedings, muttering something about a guitar.
For the Oct. 25 incident in downtown Joliet, Medina is being charged with four aggravated batteries, three counts of resisting a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer and two counts of battery by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office of Jim Glasgow.
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Now, it remains anybody’s guess if and when Medina will ever stand trial at the Will County Courthouse in connection with the 10 criminal charges filed against the Joliet homeless man.
Back on Dec. 1, the following court proceedings happened in front of Will County Judge Dave Carlson: The prosecution was represented by Sarah Romero and Assistant Will County Public Defender Zack Strupeck appeared for Medina.
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Judge Carlson heard that Medina refused to his cell at the Will County Jail to come to court that morning. In Courtroom 405, in Medina’s absence, both sides agreed to the findings from a mental fitness evaluation for Medina. As a result, the judge found Medina unfit to stand trial, but his mental competency may be restored within the next year, court files reflect.
As a result, Judge Carlson ordered the Illinois Department of Human Services to intervene and determine a suitable placement for Medina.
Typically, inmates needing intensive psychiatric services are either sent to Elgin or Chester, and Will County court officials have previously told Joliet Patch that being sent to the Chester Mental Health Center is considered far, far, worse than being housed in the Will County Jail while awaiting trial.
In any event, Judge Carlson has set Jan. 9 for an update on Medina’s status regarding placement for treatment. For now, Medina’s felony charges in the attack upon Chief Evans, plus Medina’s pending criminal charges for a September arrest by Joliet police, in which Medina is accused of punching another person in the face, are both on hold.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
10 Charges for Man Who Bit, Clawed, Punched Police Chief: Prosecutors
Police Chief Taken To Hospital After Downtown Attack, 1 Arrested
Body Camera Won’t Be Released In Attack On Joliet’s Chief: English
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