Carpentersville man who died after traffic stop mourned
Joshua Paul of Carpentersville is being remembered this week for his warm smile and outgoing, caring personality.
“He was always thinking about others, about the people around him,” his brother, Christopher Paul, said Sunday. “We're all pretty devastated that he's gone.”
Paul, 31, died Aug. 18 at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, where he'd been taken after being involved in a traffic stop by Carpentersville police. The cause of death has not been revealed, and Paul's death is being investigated by the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit.
Paul's family and friends declined to comment on the investigation Sunday, preferring to focus instead on his life.
Paul grew up in Chicago and Elgin, graduating from Larkin High School, his brother said. He worked in the restaurant industry as a server.
“He loved doing that, loved working around food,” Christopher Paul said.
A memorial service for Paul was held Saturday at Laird Funeral Home in Elgin. Christopher said he was amazed at the number of people who stopped by to say goodbye to his brother and express condolences to the family.
“It was way beyond the friends that I knew would be there,” he said. “That really helped.”
Bartlett resident Stephanie Jaramillo met Paul through his fiance, Jeff Bolek. She said Paul had a natural charm that was hard to resist.
“He was such a vibrant person,” she said. “He was so happy, goofy, silly. Everyone loved him.”
Jaramillo has organized an online fundraiser to help cover Paul's final expenses and provide Bolek with a special memento. The fundraiser can be found by visiting gofundme.com and searching for Joshua Paul.
“It was the least I could do,” Jaramillo said. “Jeff was so overwhelmed, and I knew that so many people would want to do something to help out and just to remember Josh.”
State police are investigating Paul's death at the request of Carpentersville police, a village spokesman told the Daily Herald. No additional details were available Sunday. An autopsy has been completed, but Kane County Coroner Rob Russell declined to release its results Saturday and could not be reached for comment Sunday.
In addition to his fiance and his brother, Paul is survived by his mother, Donna Paul, two nieces, a nephew and several aunts, uncles and cousins.