Senior Citizen Punched In Face After Smelling Smoke From Neighbor's Apartment: Joliet PD

JOLIET, IL — After spending five days in the Will County Jail, 64-year-old Joliet resident Robert Lee Weathers has been released from custody in connection with last week's violent episode in the 400 block of Bluff Street, Joliet police arrest reports show.

This marks the fourth time that Weathers has spent time in the Will County Jail since last August.

This time, he's charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated assault to a police officer, obstructing justice and obstructing identification.

Joliet police spokesman Tizoc Landeros provided the following information pertaining to the arrest:

On June 18, at about 3:15 p.m., Joliet police officers were called to the 400 block of Bluff Street. Upon arrival, the officers spoke with a 66-year-old resident. The victim explained he had smelled smoke and went to check on his neighbor in the adjacent apartment. After knocking on his neighbor’s door, he was confronted by a male occupant from the apartment across the hall. The angry man yelled at the victim for knocking on the door and punched him in the face.

The victim returned to his apartment to call the police.

Shortly thereafter, the victim heard a knock on his door and opened it, only to realize that the person knocking was the same person who had assaulted him. Weathers yelled at the victim and punched him several times in the face, resulting in a laceration above his right eyebrow, Landeros noted.

The victim refused medical attention.

Later, the officers knocked on Weathers' door. When Weathers opened the door, he immediately began to curse at the officers. Weathers tried to retreat into his apartment; however, the officers were able to apprehend him and place him in handcuffs.

Landeros noted that Weathers continued to resist by pulling away from the officers and threatened to kill the officers. As for the victim, he informed the officers that he did not wish to seek any vengeance against Weathers, Landeros explained.

While the officers were waiting at the Will County Jail, Weathers spat on an officer sitting in the front seat of the squad car. He continued to be combative with the WCADF officers, also spitting at them, the arrest reports reflect.