Suspect in Joliet 7-Eleven robberies arrested, police say

One man was identified by police as the suspect responsible for two armed robberies at a 7-Eleven store in Joliet this week.

An investigation of the two robberies of 7-Eleven, 325 S. Larkin Avenue, led detectives to identify Johnathan Steele, 50, of Joliet, as the suspect, according to a statement on Thursday evening from Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English.

About 1 p.m. Thursday, officers saw Steele in the passenger seat of a vehicle in the 200 block of North Hickory Street, English said.

Officers made contact with Steele, placed him into custody and recovered a loaded .38-cliber handgun and suspected cocaine from his pants pocket, English said.

The vehicle Steele was riding in was towed from the scene. At 5:50 p.m., Steele was booked into the Will County jail.

The 7-Eleven robberies occurred on Monday and Wednesday.

In Wednesday’s robbery, Steele is accused of stealing a carton cigarettes from the store.

In Monday’s robbery, Steele is accused of stealing cash.

English said it was determined by police that Steele held an active federal probation violation warrant from the U.S. Marshals Service.