By Brian Stanley
Bugle Staff
Shorewood police say a wanted man fled from custody shortly after being arrested Jan. 30. The alleged escapee remained at-large for about 30 minutes after running out of a hospital in Joliet.
Shorewood Police Chief Aaron Klima said officers were called at 11:14 a.m. with a report of a fight in the parking lot of Econo Lodge, 19755 NE Frontage Road.
“The situation had ended before they arrived, but they did speak with the people there and learned Percy Walker, 44, had an outstanding warrant,” Klima said.
Walker was taken into custody and brought back to the Shorewood Police station for booking, but reportedly complained of a medical issue. A Troy Fire ambulance was called and Walker was taken to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center.
Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Walker got off the gurney and told emergency room nurses he had to use the bathroom. While approaching the urinal he allegedly changed direction, walked outside and ran to the nearby street.
Despite dangerous subzero temperatures, Walker was wearing only a black Chicago Blackhawks hoodie over his clothes when he fled, according to Klima.
Shorewood and Joliet police searched for Walker who was “spotted in a driveway a few blocks (from the hospital) hiding under a vehicle,” according to police reports.
Walker was then arrested on charges of escape and obstructing a police officer. After being medically cleared, he was booked into the Will County jail where he is being held on $25,000 bond. Walker reportedly questioned “why (he) was charged with escape when they told me I was free to go.”
Willowbrook Deputy Police Chief Lauren Kaspar said the outstanding warrant charging Walker with retail theft and burglary was issued last month. According to court records, Walker has felony convictions going back to the 1990s with charges of forgery and theft in 2008 and theft, assault and criminal trespassing in 2015.