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Blind Man Beaten for Not Getting Out of Elevator Quickly Enough, Police Say

Willie Williams, who told Joliet police he'd "do it again" if given the chance, was charged with aggravated battery to a handicapped person.

 

A legally blind man was taken to the hospital with injuries he suffered at the hands of a man who beat him for not getting out of an elevator quickly enough, Joliet police said.

And the blind man's alleged attacker—57-year-old Willie Williams—bragged to officers when he was arrested that he "would do it again," police said.

The 48-year-old legally blind man was with Williams and several others in the elevator of the 401 N. Bluff St. building of the John O. Holmes public housing project about 9:15 p.m. on the Fourth of July, police said.

The blind man didn't exit the elevator fast enough for Williams' liking and the two exchanged words, police said.

Williams then punched the blind man twice above his right eye, police said. The blind man was taken to Provena St. Joseph Medical Center and police headed over to the Holmes Houses, where both the beaten man and Williams live.

Officers spoke with Williams in his apartment. Williams admitted to knowing the man was legally blind, police said, and then boasted that he "would do it again" if the opportunity to punch him in the face arose again in the future.

Williams was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery to a handicapped person and taken to the Will County jail.

Related Topics: Handicapped, Jail, Legally Blind, Police, and public housing

Marilynn Reinhardt

8:18 am on Friday, July 6, 2012

Boasting about his ability to beat up a physically challenged person is clear evidence of what a savage, inhumane person Willie is. He should spend a long time in jail to see if his way of thinking (or lack thereof) changes!

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irontrain

1:55 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012

This is the problem created when Section 8 housing rules were changed, lumping them all together. Elderly, disabled and the chronic poor. Kennedy Terrace was once exclusively for the elderly. Now quickly becoming a dump just like Evergreen. Everyone knows it everyone sees it but nobody does anything to stop it. What do we do when people will not learn in school and will not get and KEEP a job? I've heard all the blowhard answers but whats the real answer. The one that will work?

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Carol Morgan

2:41 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012

"You give a man a fish, he eats for the day, you teach a man how to fish, he eats for life." We keep giving things people need and not helping them learn; trades, free housing, food, etc. Giving people things they need and not teaching them how to do things for themselves has (in my opinion) created much of this problem.

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Jerry

1:16 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012

While what you say may be true, Carol, this isn't a societal problem. This is an ignorant, over the hill thug who thinks it's okay to attack someone with a disability because they are an easy target. This is an individual defect, not a societal one.

Crystal Jensen

6:06 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012

I say knock him around for being an ignorant jackass!

Reply

DAVE MEDINA

11:36 am on Saturday, July 7, 2012

I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS BLIND, IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO HER, I WOULD DEFINITLY END UP IN JAIL! HED BE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!!!

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Jerry

1:15 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012

Let the punishment fit the crime. Tie this guy to a post in front of the projects he lives in, blindfolded. Then let random people walking by throw him a beating whenever the urge strikes. Let's see if ol' Willie here would be so quick to do it again.

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myron ball

6:46 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Some people have no respect for others. Why cant they just leave every one alone?

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Dinkamoe

6:03 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012

This is a defective pyscopath that needs to be returned to God as the defective product he is so he won't hurt anyone else.....

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