Trucker sought for threatening girlfriend with gun

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:29AM

JOLIET — Police are looking for an Indianapolis trucker who stuck a gun in his girlfriend’s mouth when she accompanied him to pick up a trailer at an intermodal in Joliet early Wednesday, police said. He is currently being sought in the Indianapolis area.

Lt. Ed Gregory said James Warner, 62, brought his 40-year-old girlfriend along for the ride Tuesday night to make the pickup at 3000 Centerpoint Way.

“They argued on the way and he pulled out a gun and struck her across the head,” Gregory said. “Warner then put the gun in her mouth and threatened to kill her.”

Around 1:30 a.m. the pair arrived at the intermodal where the victim was able to distract Warner and throw the gun out the truck window.

“She got out and ran to security while Warner fled in the truck back toward Indianapolis,” Gregory said.

Police were called to the scene and reportedly found a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. The victim was treated for minor injuries and interviewed by detectives.

“The girlfriend said Warner had multiple guns and would threaten to confront police,” Gregory said.

Alerts were put out for law enforcement to look for the semi, but Warner had already reached his home before Indianapolis police arrived to search.

“They spoke with his wife and learned he’d already been there, gotten more ammunition and left with his truck again,” Gregory said.

Indianapolis police found the semi-tractor around 7:30 a.m. and found no footprints or other tire tracks in the snow around it. At 10 a.m. Indianapolis police were awaiting a Will County search warrant to inspect the vehicle.

After police had surrounded the truck Wednesday morning, a SWAT team moved in to discover Warner was not inside the cab.

Warner is being sought for unlawful restraint, aggravated domestic battery and aggravated assault, reports said.