Road Rage Riot Ends in Arrest of County Board Member's Son, 2 Others
Three Joliet men, including the son of Will County Board member Steve Wilhelmi, allegedly menaced the occupants of another car and whipped one young man with a belt.
A carload of Joliet men—including the son of Will County Board member Steve Wilhelmi—menaced the occupants of another vehicle, chasing them around the west side and ultimately whipping one with a belt before a bystander blocked them in and the cops showed up, police said.
The three men—23-year-old Manuel Borrego of 319 Hunter Ave., Daniel Duffy, 22, of 479 Mason Ave., and 21-year-old Alex Wilhelmi of 1108 Taylor St.—were captured near the corner of Kenilworth and Dellmar avenues about 10:30 p.m. Sunday and taken to the Will County jail.
Alex Wilhelmi is the son of Steve Wilhelmi.
Borrego was behind the wheel of a Pontiac and cut off a Saturn carrying four young men, police said. Words were exchanged and someone in Borrego's car threw a 44-ounce cup of soda through the open window of the Saturn.
Borrego then started chasing the Saturn through town before pulling in front of it and braking on Kenilworth at Dellmar, police said. The Saturn rear-ended the Pontiac and then fled by speeding off in reverse.
But one of the passengers in the Saturn had gotten out to confront his pursuers and was left behind by his buddies, police said. Unfortunately for him, he was beset by Borrego, Duffy and Wilhelmi.
Wilhelmi pulled off his belt and whipped the man's back while the other two punched and kicked him, police said. While this was going on, a neighbor reportedly drove into the fray and blocked Borrego's car with his own.
Borrego and Duffy then turned their attention to the neighbor, police said. Borrego reportedly reached into the neighbor's car and broke off the key in the ignition while Duffy pulled so hard on the car's door that it bent.
But Borrego's alleged disabling of the car that was blocking in his own proved to be the latest in a series of poor decisions, as the police arrived to arrest him and his two friends.
The man who was beaten and whipped with Wilhelmi's belt emerged from the ordeal without having to go to a hospital, police said.
Borrego was subjected to a breathalizer test and unsurprisingly blew over the legal limit, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence, mob action, criminal damage to property, battery and reckless driving.
Duffy and Wilhelmi also were charged with mob action and battery, and Duffy caught a case for criminal damage to property.
In This article
-
City of Joliet
150 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL -
Joliet Police Department
150 W Washington St, Joliet, IL -
Will County Adult Detention Center
95 S Chicago St, Joliet, IL
john bruno
9:25 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Too bad Wilhelmi didn't get his as..... kicked for embarrassing his family that way.
Butch
6:01 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
This must be a mistake. No politicians son would do this.
Armondo
1:33 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
yea right ! that was right down the street from me if I had been neighbor to intervene I just might have beaten all three of their asses board members son or not !
I'm Just Saying
9:09 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I hope these YOUNG MAN as you would call them Politicans son or not GET WHATS coming to them!!!!!! You play you have to Pay!!!!!
Infamous Steve
9:32 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Wasn't his kid in trouble last year for stabbing someone or something like that? I remember something about a boy being stabbed over a ex girlfriend or something along those lines. I might be wrong though.
WilliamN
2:41 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
What a weak attempt at recovery! "I might be wrong though"..... If you're going to make an inflammatory comment about this kid, take the time to get your facts straight.
He's in trouble for sure, and the family will suffer for his actions, but it's childish and silly to try and pile on in that manner.
irontrain
10:07 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Why is this surprising to some people? Americans idolize the rich and famous and that includes our elected officials. They get the freebies and attention we all wish for in some hopes they will call us "friend". So is it surprising that this kid thinks he can beat someone up who's NOT giving him the butt kissing he's used to? I just read about this Curry woman who thinks she's a celebrity vs. St. Joes hospital. Evidently they think she's a celebrity too because they hurriedly dropped to their knees to kiss the fanny. I see now why kids want to "friend" everyone on Facebook and Twitter. A large following means your somebody. As somebody you get the star treatment, at least in America. The place where we're supposed to be equal.
Helloseekers
10:24 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I hope he does not receive preferential treatment just because he's a Wilhelmi...
Ginger
10:58 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Not to sure what the point is of mentioning who his father is? Shouldn't we also mention who the parents of the other men were? Don't know any of the families, but it's hard enough when your kid messes up even if you aren't 'somebody' but why put them on a higher pedestal? And yes, they all need to be punished equally for this violent act!!
barb
11:04 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Animals!
kara
1:25 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I think we should just let time pass whatever happens happens, I know these boys. Don't believe whatever you hear. Take it to heart these are peoples children.
WilliamN
2:46 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Nicely stated kara.
I'm stunned that the author of this story made mention of the kid's father in the headline, the first paragraph, the second paragraph, and just in case we missed it the first three times, it got its own sentence in the fifth paragraph. I think we got your point........ One time, and maybe two, would have been sufficient.
I'm Just Saying
4:06 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
what about the other young men they become Adults at age 18 but like to play hard so
they have to get WHATS COMING TO THEM !!
T-Bird
4:21 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Every thug in history was somebody's child. They're still thugs.
DRECKS
7:22 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Amazing how the herald news didn't print a story on this. They did have an entry on their web page but that was pulled sometime since last night. Politics at work, uncle A.J. and friends put the squeeze on and the herald. Thank you Joliet Patch for being the "Ring of Truth" like the old herald called its self.
WilliamN
10:27 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Not true. Just checked online edition and story is in full view. Sorry your "politics at work" angle doesn't "ring true".
Infamous Steve
8:51 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
WilliamN must be a supporter of A.J.
WilliamN
7:14 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Well thought out rebuttal Infamous.
Infamous Steve
8:53 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
As for the stabbing I was talking about I do belive this was the same kid. I know he was in trouble for something last year and belive it was a stabbing. If I am wrong OH WELL.
Keith urban
10:34 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Ya you are wrong lol. I know all three of them and that never happened. Why don't u get off this sight and go do some research you loser
Pizza Glen
1:06 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Who cares anyways... Kid is obviously a loser and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Captain Jack
3:44 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
DRECKS was owned... Spitting bs
mike
5:01 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
i know these guys they are real good friends of mine and i can tell u they are not thugs they are just three young men who made a very dumb drunkin mistake i kno they will get in trouble for this so y cant everyone just let it be. all u parents out there think ur kids would never do this but i bet thats wat there parents thought too.
Marilynn Reinhardt
8:42 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Drunk or not, Alex has to take responsibility for his actions. His parentage doesn't make any difference -- his father is not the guilty party who committed this series of crimes. Simply put, he did it now he must face the music! Maybe next time he'll stop to think before letting his @ss over ride his brain.
RITCH
9:49 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Anybody else surprised no charges were brought against this obviously poorly parented delinquent?