Frankfort Man Wields Knife, Crossbow in Bar Fight Over Shirt-Swapping, Sheriff's Office Says

A Frankfort man was arrested Friday, Sept. 16, after brandishing a knife and a crossbow during a fight over shirt-swapping at a Joliet bar, according to a Will County Sheriff's Office report.

Michael A. Jefferson, 33, of the 10800 block of Lincoln Highway, was charged with aggravated assault and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon after a fight at Gerry's Place, in the 1800 block of East Washington Street in Joliet. George L. Meline, 45, of the 200 block of Mills Road in Joliet, also was charged with aggravated battery.

The fight began inside Gerry's Place after Meline agreed to exchange shirts with an unknown woman, said Kathy Hoffmeyer, a sheriff's office spokeswoman. Eight men, including Jefferson, then jumped Meline, and the fight eventually spilled out into the bar's parking lot, she said.

It is unknown what relationship Jefferson had—if any—to the woman Meline switched shirts with, Hoffmeyer added.

Jefferson left the bar to go to a nearby residence on Washington Street he claimed was his, and he returned to the bar with a chef's knife and a crossbow, Hoffmeyer said. Meline said Jefferson pointed the crossbow at him and unsuccessfully tried to shoot him with it several times. When deputies arrived at the bar, Jefferson had the knife in his right hand and the crossbow in his left and was approaching Meline, who was covered in blood, according to the report.

Meline went to Silver Cross Hospital, where he was treated for seven small puncture wounds on his back, a puncture wound on his chest, a bite mark, and scrapes and scratches. Jefferson was sent to Joliet's Saint Joseph Medical Center and treated for a two-inch cut on the back of his thigh. Both men were charged at the hospital and booked into Will County Jail after treatment.

Jefferson is still in custody on $5,000 bail. His court date is Oct. 7.