JOLIET – A homeless man allegedly forced a woman into a vacant house and tried to sexually assault her Monday in Joliet.
Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory said police learned about the incident at 1 a.m. Tuesday when the 31-year-old woman called from a gas station on Cass Street.
"About 6 p.m. Monday she'd been at Clay [Street] and Youngs [Avenue] when a man she knew as 'Joseph' grabbed her and forced her inside a vacant house where he held her against her will," Gregory said. "While inside the residence he choked her, struck her numerous times and sexually groped her while attempting to remove her clothing."
The woman told officers the man struck her again when she tried to get away, but she was eventually able to break free and ran to the gas station. The victim was bruised, but otherwise unharmed.
Gregory said the victim took the officers to a house in the 500 block of Clay Street. The door was unlocked and the house was "red tagged" as unfit for occupancy, he said.
"Inside, officers found Joseph McCloud, 26, with scratches to his face and neck," Gregory said.
McCloud was taken into custody, but refused to speak with police, Gregory said. He was arrested on charges of aggravated battery, unlawful restraint, criminal sexual abuse and criminal trespassing.
McCloud had a previous address in Plainfield, but is believed to be homeless, according to police records.
