Chicago man picks fight with Joliet police
By BRIAN STANLEY bstanley@stmedianetwork.com September 11, 2012 4:16PM
Updated: October 14, 2012 1:40PM
JOLIET — A Chicago man allegedly wanted to settle a grudge against police with his fists Tuesday morning.
Cmdr. Rich Demick said shortly after 5 a.m. an officer was sitting in a squad car at the Will County Courthouse parking lot when Lavelle L. Watts walked up and smacked the passenger window.
Watts, 32, allegedly asked if the officer knew who he was and was disappointed to find he did not.
“He said, ‘You remember me? I’m the one whose arm you tried to break when you arrested me. What are you going to do about it now?’ He then squared off and kept trying to fight the officer,” Demick said.
Another officer arrived and Watts reportedly struggled while being taken into custody.
“He said if they apologized for the last arrest he would drop the lawsuit,” Demick said. Joliet police were unaware of any pending litigation Watts has filed against the department.
“He also said an officer had stolen his lunch and wanted to fight another while he was being booked to get his apology,” Demick said.
Instead Watts, of 2249 E. 100th St., was booked into the county jail on charges of aggravated assault and physical intimidation.
Records show Watts was last arrested for driving on a suspended license in October 2011 by Will County Sheriff’s police.
