Joliet Cop Doing Good Deed Attacked: Police Blotter

A officer giving a lift home to an intoxicated man was attacked by the gentleman he was helping out but managed to subdue his assailant with the help of two county deputies, police said.

The ungrateful attacker, 28-year-old Juan Garcia of 1701 Quinn Drive, was sleeping in his car near the intersection of Caton Farm and Bronk roads about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

The officer offered Garcia a ride to his house and Garcia got in the back seat. But along the way he jumped into the front of the squad car and started choking the officer, police said.

Two county deputies happened to be in the area and assisted the officer in his struggle with Garcia, police said.

Garcia turned out to be wanted on warrants in Will County and elsewhere, police said. He also had an alien registration card made out to a fake name.

Garcia was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, obstructing justice, forgery and resisting arrest. He was booked into the .

Undercover operation

A six-month drug investigation culminated with the arrest of a local man Wednesday morning.

Michael Mercer, 33, of 912 Audrey Ave. was arrested at his home about 8:45 a.m. on charges of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

Undercover agents with the Joliet Narcotics Unit bought cocaine from Mercer over the last six months, police said.

Officers obtained a search warrant for Mercer's home and raided it Wednesday morning.

Mercer was booked into the Will County jail.