Police: Two men, two women beat man over a bottle of water
SUN-TIMES MEDIA June 1, 2012 10:42AM
Four Joliet residents are facing criminal charges after they beat a man who refused their request for a bottle of water, police said.
Eric D. Williamson, 25; Robert A. Martinez, 24; Marite T. Lane, 26; and Samantha D. Miller, 22; were charged with aggravated battery, police said.
Assistant Police Chief Steve Lucchesi said the 26-year-old victim was loading cases of bottled water into his car around 6 a.m. at the Speedway at 701 N. Independence Blvd., when one of the four suspects said the victim should give him a bottle.
“He said ‘No’ and went back inside to bring out some bags of ice,” Lucchesi said.
When the man came back out, Williamson and Martinez jumped him and began beating him before Lane and Miller joined in and began punching and kicking him, too, Lucchesi said.
The quartet fled in Lane’s red car, which was soon stopped by police.
Lane also was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, while Williamson also was charged with obstructing justice for allegedly giving officers a fake name since he had an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear in court.
The victim refused medical treatment at the scene, but later told police he had gone to the hospital for treatment for a broken nose and broken ankle, Lucchesi said.
