Well, a very pragmatic report, interesting that the Joliet Police found it necessary to shoot at face level (the suspect received a gunshot wound to the face!) for a traffic stop where the suspect was fleeing the scene? Don't they have radio's? It's not like he could've gone far before back up was able to stop him. Washington street is a "one way in, one way out" stretch of road? What was the "disturbance" that called for that level of violence? Of course why would a 35 year old white male be afraid to stop on the south side of Joliet? Don't worry tis one will get swept away. Thank you for your direct report, it was the only information anyone could find out after the blue wall went up.

UPDATE: Shoot to Kill orders for traffic stops in Joliet?
The suspect James Pacheco is being HELD at Loyola Hospital while being treated for FIVE GUNSHOT wounds, one to the face, three to the arm and one in the upper abdomen where the bullet is lodged between the clavicle and rib. He is under Police "Custody" , and his wife and children and extended family are not being allowed to see him. A family member, who did not wish to be identified, stated that Joliet P.D. is tight lipped over the incident and it is unclear whether Mr. Pacheco received the gun shot wounds form the Joliet police officers or was wounded BEFORE the alleged traffic stop and was trying to obtain medical attention in a blood loss haze?

Jack, we still have a lot of questions, too. The only info so far is from the press release, but we hope to have a more complete report sometime before day's end.

Thanks Karen, seriously, only felt this one sounded weird that's why the bumps :)

Aiming a car at our police officers is horrible! Glad the officers did what was necessary to protect their lives.

Driving one's vehicle at our police officers is attempted murder! I am so glad that the officers were not hurt! They risk their lives everyday and are lucky to be alive.

Deborah... really how naive are you! So, no matter the crime , shoot first is the answer? I agree, Mr. Pacheco was in the wrong for fleeing... period! But can you honestly say that shooting someone FIVE TIMES is justifiable? "Aiming" a car at the officer? really? Where was their back up? What happened to the Joliet Police order to NOT create an incident by "chasing" , they had his car info, his name and his address...So because he turned around and continued to drive is justification? What if they had it wrong? What if it were a 70 year old man with dementia who just didn't understand? Would it have been justified then! I too am glad the officers aren't hurt, but, Debbie, come on, Mr. Pacheco is sitting in a hospital facing multiple surgeries unable to speak BECAUSE he didn't stop???? Can you honestly believe that Pacheco turning the car around, and them being STUPID enough to stand in front of a car that ALREADY fled once, is justification to shoot a man FIVE times with nine mm! Obviously, you have A. never been on the job and B. never been shot! So save the "flag" waving for Memorial day !

If I had a gun and someone was trying to run me over I'd kill them before they killed me!! Its naive not to!!

I am glad that the cops werent hurt as well...BUT there were other ways they could have protected themselves by i dont kno mayb shooting the tires instead of this man who WAS NOT TRYING TO HARM ANYONE....this man is not a threat to anyone and now he is facing death or jail..

Shoot first, really JACK. how many police involved shootings do we have in Joliet?? Not a lot, so that's a BS comment about shoot first.....the police are taught to shoot to STOP THE THREAT, if that takes 1 round or 15 rounds, then you do what you have to. It's not the movies where you shoot the gun out of the offenders hand or shoot the offender in the arm/leg. Shoot to stop the threat, a vehicle attempting to run me over is a major threat. 5 rounds was not enough.....

@Dana Ok. So you have a guy driving a car directly at you. I would love to see you hit a tire from in front of the car and have the car actually stop before hitting you. Use common sense. What you said is like saying "I don't see why the police didn't reach into the car and turn it off". That, along with your tire shooting theory are both very poor decisions to make. The officer(s) made life or death decisions and I am glad they were not hurt.

I doubt every one of the cops there was in front of the car.....this man was not a threat to anyone...they could have also got back into the cars and followed after him....shooting 5 times was not the answer....if he had a gun yeah.....BUT HE DIDNT

DANA, what's it matter if 1 or 20 officers where in front of the OFFENDERS vehicle? The officer/officers that were in the direct path of getting hit by the vehicle made a split second decision to stop the threat of being struck and made the right decision. The article would have a whole different heading reading "Joliet Officers Ran Over by Man" this guy is a loose cannon and deserves what he got.

What the heck is wrong with all of the readers bashing our police. I prefer Joliet PD shoot the bad guy! How are they to know if this idiot had a gun? Look at his background - so what if an officer dated his ex? She had an OP agianst this jerk. Were there other cars also waiting at the train? Could have been much worse if they guy crash into others. hhmmm watch this video! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=48396170&#48396170

I know James, and this is not like him at all!!!! I was with him earlier that night! James Pacheco is a kind hearted man who give a complete stranger the shirt off his back! He is not a jerk, dangerous, or a threat to anyone! Hopefully the entire story will come out so that his name can be cleared, or at least his side of the story can be heard. Just remember the job of reporters is to saw the worst of everything, and you don't always get the entire story. For example: Did any of you know that James was shot 5 times (three in the arm, one in the chest, and one to his face). He is undergoing reconstructive surgery and is in critical condition.

Bravo Maureen, for posting that video. This is what the police are up against every day. It used to be that when the police yelled "stop" people listened; not any more. These POS losers were most likely never disciplined at home growing up. The police HAVE to win or they die.

And you have to wonder what that loser was doing on Union St., right in the middle of gang territory: looking for drugs?

A car is as deadly as a gun. When are the thick headed cop haters going to realize that. You wouldn't jump out into traffic just like you wouldn't jump in front of a gun. Thats because they will both kill you. They are both deadly when coming at you from a criminal that is dead set on getting away. I don't care who was with him earlier. You weren't there when he tried to run down a police officer who was just trying to do his job and make it home safe to his family.

I understand a cops job, I am the daughter of one! All im saying is that the whole story wasnt published! James isnt a phsyco and I cannot imagine what must have provoked him. I feel sorry for the cops involved, but I know James and I know he would never intentionally hurt anyone!!!!!

You would think after the first shot he would have stopped. He also had to know the police had their guns drawn.

These people are obviously Mr. Pacheco's family members. Everyone needs to look at this for what really happened. The police attempted to do what these people suggested. Once he fled from them, their alert level jumped. Within two minutes they were confronted with him again and this time he was trapped in a corner. To their defense they don't know if he is an upstanding member of his church or a desperate meth head willing to do anything to get away. Most of you are basing your opinions upon a news article that is obviously leaving information out. From reading further into this story on other sites I see this is not his first run in with the police. Too think this individual is sweet and innocent is naive. This person obviously has a problem with authority. None of you were there and you are only fooling yourselves to believe that the cops used excessive force. Honestly I am disappointed that we have to pay the bill for this scumbags medicle bills and probably legal defense because this guy got lucky. They were definately aiming to kill. Kudos to the JPD for taking another dirtbag off the streets before he hurt someone. What if during this sweet mans pursuit, he ran into someone and killed them? Who's fault would that be.

First of all there is more than adequate numbers of Joliet Police involved shootings...read your annual statistics,2nd off the idiot was standing in front of the car...not something they teach you in the academy third off how could you possibly believe he was a major threat they were coming after him for allegedly breaking someone's window come on get a clue here and it was not the first time within a twenty four hour period.Joliet police are a bunch of jacked up morons who can't tell their heads from holes in the ground.On more than one occasion I have had the displeasure of dealing with these simpletons who would rather sit and scratch than do their job right.Five bullets to stop him not even fathomable they're trained to hit targets in academy obviously if you have to let off that many rounds you can't hit the broad side of a barn door.Also have you ever stopped to wonder what the other side of the story is?No because you're too busy listening to a bunch of corrupt politicians who honestly if you gave them viagra would probably get taller.They are also blocking the family from any updates on James's condition when he is obviously fighting for his life.Why don't you check out how many lawsuits JPD has against them currently for numerous violations including police brutality?Get your facts before you judge the person involved on the other side.And if you believe the morons talking then you're just as ignorant as them.Wake up and smell the coffee,and prayers to the family

Yes. He intentionally stood in front of a car the he didn't know was going to make a U-Turn in an attempt to continue evading police. Use your brain. Also, have you ever been through the acedemy? Or have you ever been trying to hit a car barreling toward you while trying to get out of the way? Criminals in police custody in the hospital are not permitted to see any friend or family member. Its a safety issue. So before you judge what happened, try living through it. I'm 100% sure the officer did not want to shoot but this scumbag left him no choice. Go back to fantasy land with your unicorns.

Hey if he is such a great guy why was he breaking his dads windows out that night. This is why the police were called out in the first place! Super!

Actually yes I have Mike and they always tell you stand to the side to avoid immense fatal danger.Yes I have been in this situation before and I also know procedure very well.I mentioned nothing of seeing the family either if you'll open your eyes and read you'll see the exact words blocking the family on information about his condition.I also know this man's family very well and know his personality,so I know for a fact he is not a scumbag and was not trying to cause them immediate harm.He was only trying to evade and elude.Yes I know the way that's phrased sounds crazy but it's still how it is.They had all the information to get him in a better way.There's an old saying that comes to mind...you can outrun a squad but you can't outrun the radio.Maybe you ought to go back to fantasy land with your unicorns or whatever it is you play with.Also you say to try living through it before judging as I said before been there done that but here's an idea for you...how about you don't judge either until you know the full story not just one side of it.

I highly doubt SHANNON has been to a State certified academy because anyone that has would know that each situation is rapidly changing and split second decisions were made that night. The CRIMINAL OFFENDER your defending made a split second decision to make a u turn towards the officers and he paid for it. Well since he made the decision to evade/elude like you say SHANNON, he committed that felony and a second one by almost running over an officer. He would not be in critical condition if it wasn't for HIS decisions that night to commit his crimes, run from the police and turn his vehicle into a deadly force situation.

Please, to all ... it is an unfortunate incident. Pacheco wrong for running and no matter how you paint it the officers were in a heightened adrenaline mode, and they are East Side cops, which means they are constantly on gaurd, but even a rookie knows you NEVER put yourself in danger by standing in front of a vehicle that was already fleeing and eluding. Mr. Pacheco is in the hospital in a coma... the officer in question is not able to patrol our streets... all because of split second decisions. Its a lose lose situation. My prayers to the Pacheco family and to the officer, because unless he is a "kill em all" type I am sure he is struggling with this right now

They moron fled from Police, got stopped by a train, did a U-Turn a which point I am sure the officers tried to get him to exit the vehicle, which he did not. Even if an Officer was standing in front of his car, AT THAT POINT YOU STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND OBEY THE OFFICER. I am sure what the officers had in mind was thier own saftey and the saftey of the public from this moron. He got what he deserved and is lucky the shots did not end his life. Dont anyone think who is defending this idiot think maybe he should have complyed with the officers request when they first approached him, obvioulsy he was doing something wrong or there would have been NO police interaction. Too bad thier aim was not more clear, would have saved the taxpayers some cash to house and care for someone who obvioulsy lacks basic common sense.