Drunken Caretaker Attacks 81-Year-Old Woman: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department announced the arrest of 61-year-old Manhattan resident Scott A. Smith in connection with an attack on an 81-year-old woman back in April. The police said Smith was arrested over the weekend and put in the Will County Jail on two counts of aggravated battery and two counts domestic battery.

According to the arrest logs, at about 7:30 p.m. April 15, officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of East Washington Street for a domestic battery. The victim, an 81-year-old woman from Joliet, informed the officers that her caretaker, Smith, had attacked her.

Police spokesman Tizoc Landeros said the victim reported that earlier that morning, she was experiencing pain from a recent surgery and was in the bathroom retrieving her medication. This noise disturbed Smith, who became irate. The victim said Smith was intoxicated from drinking the night before, according to police.

Police said Smith took the medication from her, insisting that she did not need it. She then retrieved the medication back from Smith, at which point he grabbed her by the forearms, squeezing them and causing bruising and a laceration, the arrest report showed.

At about 4:30 p.m. April 16, detectives traveled to Manhattan to interview Smith. He said he was the caretaker for the victim and admitted to holding her by the arms, according to arrest reports.

On June 29, officers became aware of an arrest warrant for Smith. They requested assistance from the Manhattan Police, and Smith was found and taken into custody.