Joliet man arrested on weapons charges
By Tony Graf tgraf@stmedianetwork.com September 22, 2012 8:14PM
Updated: October 24, 2012 6:55AM
JOLIET — An alleged gang member was arrested on weapons charges after an April incident in Joliet, police said.
Demetrius L. Moffett, 23, of Joliet was arrested Thursday while he was in custody at the Will County Jail on separate charges.
Back in April, a group was riding around the East Side of Joliet in a car. One subject had a valid firearm owner’s identification card, and also had a .40-caliber handgun inside the vehicle, said Police Chief Michael Trafton.
One person in the group contacted Moffett, and negotiations were made for a possible drug deal, Trafton said.
The group met with Moffett, and Moffett entered the car, Trafton said.
Moffett then saw the gun, grabbed it, and exited the car, police said. He refused to return the gun, and threatened the group with it, police said.
Moffett then fled, and a subject in the group called 911, police said. The subject gave a statement to police, and picked Moffett out of a photo lineup, police said.
Joliet police worked with the Will County state’s attorney’s office, and the case was reviewed. The office approved charges, and Will County Judge Edward Burmila issued a warrant Thursday.
Moffett was arrested Thursday, in connection with the April incident, on charges of armed habitual criminal, unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and possession of a stolen firearm.
Trafton credited Detective Mark Lane for outstanding police work on the case.
“It just shows the dedication that he went to in order to put a case together against a known gang member and to keep him off the streets of Joliet,” Trafton said.
