Wheelchair-Bound Man Charged In Metal Footrest Attack of Nursing Home Roommate

Caption: James LeBlanc, 52, of Bridgeview, was charged with aggravated assault causing great bodily harm. | Cook County Sheriff

A wheelchair bound man is accused of taking the metal footrest off his chair and beating his roommate with it at a Bridgeview nursing home.

James LeBlanc, 52, was wheeled into a Bridgeview courtroom by Cook County sheriff’s officers for a bond hearing on Thursday afternoon, where he is facing aggravated assault charges.

Prosecutors said that around 11:23 p.m. June 9, police were called for a disturbance at the Midway Neurological and Rehabilitation Center, 8540 S. Harlem Ave., in Bridgeview, where LeBlanc is a resident.

According to the charges, LeBlanc and his roommate were arguing over the setting on the air conditioner in their room, where LeBlanc removed the metal footrest from his wheelchair and began beating his 62-year-old roommate in the head.

Prosecutors said LeBlanc also hit a nurse with the footrest who had arrived to break up the fight.

The roommate was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he received 10 stitches for two lacerations on the top of his head.

The public defender told the judge that LeBlanc has lived at the nursing home since January. Prior to his disability he was a home remodeler and was presently in the process of applying for social security disability benefits.

“What I was hoping you were going to tell me was that he was taking medication that made him act irrationally,” Cook County Judge Peter Felice said. “Yet he allegedly took a metal footrest and caused someone to to get stitches. How disabled could he be?”

Judge Felice set bond at $30,000 with ten percent to apply. LeBlanc’s next court hearing is on July 6.