• 2025-12-11 22:01:04
• Gun Violence

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department announced that 33-year-old William Behnke of the 3400 block of Caton Farm Road was fired last week at the Walmart Warehouse facility on Brandon Road and now he's facing criminal charges of aggravated battery, assault and two crimes of criminal property damage surrounding the incident.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 10:39 a.m. on Dec. 3, the officers responded to the Walmart Warehouse at 3501 Brandon Road for a disturbance. Responding officers were advised that an employee who was just terminated, Behnke, was acting out of control, English noted.

Behnke had thrown computer equipment, and he also hit an employee, the arrest report showed.

Security personnel intervened to restrain him, and Joliet Fire Department paramedics were requested due to Behnke's announced desire for a mental health evaluation, as well as to provide medical attention to the employee who was struck, English advised Joliet Patch.

Joliet police noted that Behnke resisted their attempts to place him into custody by pulling away and he took a fighting stance. Officers took Behnke to the ground and he was then placed into custody without further incident, English indicated.

Behnke was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department and five days later, on Monday, Dec. 8, Behnke was released and subsequently processed at the Joliet Police Department. His final destination was the Will County Jail where he was booked into custody on Monday afternoon. He was released around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the jail logs show.

This week's criminal complaint indicates that Behnke knowingly damaged a Dell Laptop Computer and the damage exceeded $500 but did not exceed $10,000. The battery charge indicates that Behnke punched his victim in the face and his resisting a peace officer charge indicates that Behnke pulled away from Joliet officer Micah Robertso, flailed his arms and assumed a fighting stance. Behnke is also accused of throwing a laptop computer at another person at the Walmart Warehouse, putting that person "in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery."

The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow opted not to seek pretrial detention for Behnke. As a result, Will County Judge Derek Ewanic placed Behnke on electronic monitoring and the judge ordered the fired Walmart workers to refrain from entering the Walmart Warehouse at 3501 Brandon Road in Joliet.