Police: Joliet man’s death under investigation, seemed to be ‘under influence of an unknown substance’

Joliet police are investigating the death of a 39-year-old man claiming that someone was trying to kill him.

At 4:35 a.m. Wednesday, Joliet police responded to the Shell gas station at 401 S. Larkin Ave. in Joliet after a man called 911 saying someone “had pulled a gun on him and was trying to kill him,” according to a news release from the Joliet Police Department.

When Joliet police arrived, they found a 39-year-old man inside the gas station and determined that he had called 911, according to the release.

Joliet police tried talking to the man, who was sweating profusely, behaving erratically, making irrational statements and repeatedly claiming that someone was trying to kill him, according to the release.

Based on this behavior, Joliet police believed the man “might have been under the influence of an unknown substance.” So police tried detaining the man and called an ambulance for a medical evaluation to ensure the man’s safety and those around him, according to the release.

The man fell to the ground while yelling, behaving erratically and struggling with the officers assisting him, so Joliet police detained him in handcuffs, according to the release.

Joliet police also administered Narcan and repositioned the man after the man appeared to lose consciousness while on the ground; the Narcan briefly revived him, according to the release.

Joliet Fire Department paramedics provided additional medical help to the man after they arrived at the scene, according to the release.

The Joliet Fire Department took the man to Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet, where the man was later pronounced dead, according to the release.

During their investigation, Joliet police found the man’s damaged vehicle near the 200 block of Emery Street, according to the release.

Joliet police determined that the vehicle had struck a fence behind Pizza for U at 116 S. Larkin Ave. in Joliet and a tree in the 200 block of Emery Street, according to the release.

At this time, Joliet police found no evidence of a person with a gun, as the man had claimed, according to the release.

The Will County Coroner’s Officer will determine the man’s identification and manner of death, according to the release.

According to departmental policy, Joliet police personnel involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave, according to the release.

Per Illinois statute, the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force was immediately notified and is currently investigating this incident, according to the release.