Lockport Man Grabbed Nurse By Neck As They Protected Patient: NLPD

NEW LENOX, IL — A Lockport man faces a battery charge, after police said he became violent with a nurse who was treating his child.

New Lenox Police were called Sept. 13 to Silver Cross Hospital for a report of aggravated battery. A nurse told police she had been caring for a juvenile patient. The patient said their father, later identified as Ralph Tolbert, 65, of Lockport, had been drinking and physically harming them.

Medical staff contacted authorities, and would not allow Tolbert to leave with the patient.

Tolbert "became upset and grabbed the complainant by the neck and pushed them down while trying to get to the juvenile patient," according to police reports.

The nurse reported some pain, but had no visible injuries, police said.

Tolbert was taken into custody and transported to the New Lenox Police Department. He was charged with aggravated battery, processed, and released.