Counselor charged with choking teen patient at Harvey hospital

HARVEY, Ill. (WLS) -- A counselor is accused of choking a 15-year-old patient at Ingalls Hospital in Harvey. Investigators say Steven Pleasant became violent after the boy asked for juice.

Police say hospital surveillance video shows the boy was attacked within seconds of walking into the room, but the motive is still unclear.

Pleasant, 46, was charged Wednesday with aggravated battery in connection with the January 25th incident, which police say occurred in the behavioral unit of Ingalls Hospital.

Pleasant, who police say works as a counselor, allegedly grabbed the 15-year-old male patient, threw him across the room into a food cart, and then put the boy in a choke hold for 20 to 25 seconds before other staff members pulled him off the teen.

Authorities say Pleasant for some reason became angry after the boy asked another staff member for some orange juice.

"Absolutely nothing provoked this. This is a very weird set of events. The gentleman is still in our custody, and we're questioning him on why. And he's been mum about it thus far. But the videotape shows everything," said Sean Howard, a Harvey Police Dept. spokesperson.

A hospital spokesperson said Pleasant worked as a behavioral health technician, but referred all other questions to law enforcement.

Police say Pleasant was immediately placed on leave by the hospital.

The boy was seen by doctors after the incident, but was not seriously hurt.