Hospitalized Homeless Man Lashed Out at Nurse, Struck Her Twice: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A homeless man who was hospitalized for an apparent drug overdose lashed out at a nurse, police said, striking her twice before security restrained him.

Brian Jon McCarthy, 60, arrived at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. An ambulance had transported him to the hospital after he appeared to overdose on drugs, police said.

After he was in a treatment room for a couple hours, McCarthy apparently decided he wanted to go, police said, and he pulled out an IV and removed monitors from his body. He also called a 22-year-old nurse “several derogatory names” and started swinging at her, according to police.

McCarthy connected twice, police said, hitting the nurse in her chest before security arrived and subdued him.

St. Joe’s staff cleared McCarthy to leave and the cops reportedly transported him to the Will County jail. But when McCarthy arrived there, jail staff refused to take him, police said, and he was sent back to the hospital in an ambulance.

A doctor evaluated McCarthy and he was again cleared to go to jail. He was then returned to the adult detention and that time staff there agreed to lock him up.

McCarthy remained in custody Monday afternoon.

Brian Jon McCarthy | image via Will County Sheriff's Department