Police: Fleeing suspect in Joliet accused of possessing stolen firearm

Sheriff’s deputies caught a man who was hiding in a truck in downtown Joliet a day after he ran away from a vehicle where a stolen 9 mm firearm was found, police said.

Francisco Nasario Maradiaga, 30, was arrested on Thursday in downtown Joliet following a foot chase by Will County sheriff’s deputies. Jail records list him living in Indianapolis.

Maradiaga had been wanted by deputies since Wednesday when they found a stolen 9 mm highpoint firearm under his seat in a vehicle he was a passenger in, Will County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said.

The deputy called for backup police and then a short foot pursuit ensued. Maradiaga was found in the passenger seat of a pickup truck that was parked on Scott Street.”

—  Kathy Hoffmeyer, Will County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman

About 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, deputies pulled over a Ford Escape at Fifth Avenue and Gardner Street in Joliet, Hoffmeyer said.

Maradiaga was the front seat passenger and he fled from the vehicle while deputies were conducting the stop with the driver, Hoffmeyer said.

A deputy pursued Maradiaga but lost him in a wooded area near the 500 block of Eastern Avenue, Hoffmeyer said. The 9 mm weapon was found under Maradiaga’s seat, she said.

Deputies spoke with the driver and a backseat passenger, who said Maradiaga was homeless.

About 10:20 a.m. Thursday, deputies were on patrol near Cass and Clinton streets in downtown Joliet and they were advised to keep a lookout for Maradiaga, Hoffmeyer said.

The same deputy who performed Wednesday’s traffic stop saw Maradiaga in the 100 block of Chicago Street, Hoffmeyer said.

“The deputy called for backup police and then a short foot pursuit ensued. Maradiaga was found in the passenger seat of a pickup truck that was parked on Scott Street,” Hoffmeyer said.

Maradiaga was taken into custody on probable cause of stolen firearm possession, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, resisting an officer and obstructing identification, Hoffmeyer said.

“Maradiaga advised that the stolen gun located during the previous day was his,” Hoffmeyer said.

Maradiaga was booked into Will County about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.