Joliet Man Accused of Beating Plainfield Fest Attendee: Police

A Joliet man is one of five people accused of attacking a Plainfield Fest attendee because the victim accidentally bumped into one of the suspects, police said.

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Bryant Tuggle, 20, of 3702 Thoroughbred Lane, was charged with aggravated battery for using a piece of wood to beat a 48-year-old man. Also arrested and charged with aggravated battery were three juveniles and William Gage, 18, of 16309 S. Spring Creek Blvd., Plainfield.

Gage was also arrested last week on charges he and two accomplices robbed a Joliet pizza delivery woman at gunpoint on March 3.

Plainfield Sgt. Mike Fisher said the Plainfield Fest attack was spurred when the victim knocked one of Tuggle and Gage’s group, who then decided to retaliate.

"They proceeded to follow him, and as he got a little further away from the fest, they attacked him," beating him with the large piece of wood, Fisher said.

"He was bleeding from the head, knees and arms when officers arrived," Fisher said.

Although the five alleged attackers had left the scene, the victim was able to give police a description of their vehicle, he said. Officers arrested all five suspects following a traffic stop in the early hours of July 21, according to reports.

A day after Gage's arrest for the alleged Plainfield Fest attack, Joliet police identified him as a suspect in the armed robbery of the pizza delivery woman. Joliet police were looking to question Gage when they found out he was already in jail on the assault charge.

Police interviewed Gage in the jail, where he made statements in which he "implicated himself" in the robbery, Joliet Cmdr. Brian Benton said.

Gage, who is charged with both aggravated battery and aggravated robbery, was released July 23 after posting $1,000 bond, according to jail records. He is due in court for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 26.

Tuggle is charged with aggravated battery and driving on a suspended license. He was also released from the Will County jail after posting $1,000 bond on July 23.

Will County court records show that Gage and Tuggle were arrested by Romeoville police in September 2012 on a battery charge, but charges were later dropped.