Feb. 19--A behavioral counselor who works at a Harvey hospital threw a 15-year-old ward of the state into a food cart after chastising the boy for receiving an extra juice box, Cook County prosecutors said Thursday.
Steven Pleasant, 46, of Chicago, then put the teenager, who was at Ingalls Memorial Hospital awaiting placement at a new home, into an "arm-bar chokehold," according to prosecutors.
Cook County Judge Darron Bowden set Pleasant's bail at $50,000 Thursday at the Markham courthousePleasant is charged with aggravated battery.
Prosecutors said video recordings from eight cameras show Pleasant on Jan. 25 toss the teen into the hallway from the cafeteria where he was eating lunch.
But Pleasant's defense attorney argued the camera recordings don't tell the whole story, and his client was acting in his capacity as a counselor of nearly two years at the hospital. He described the teen as a "young man who was acting up."
"It's very difficult to see exactly what's on the video," attorney Tom Moore said.
Pleasant surrendered to Harvey police Tuesday, Moore said.
A spokeswoman with Ingalls Memorial Hospital confirmed Pleasant's employment had been terminated but declined to comment on the incident.
Pleasant began harassing the teenager about "asking for extra things" when he got the extra juice box, prosecutors said. Pleasant then ordered the teen to eat his lunch in his room.
When the teen questioned why, Pleasant yanked him out of the chair and tossed him at the food cart before putting him in the chokehold for 20 seconds, prosecutors said. Pleasant said "no one can talk to him like that" as a different behavioral therapist who intervened walked him away from the teen, prosecutors said.
Pleasant is divorced and has a teenage daughter, his defense said. He has spent at least 20 years as a counselor at various group homes and has no prior record.
After setting bail, Bowden also ordered that Pleasant have no contact with children other than his own and not to work until his case is resolved. The judge warned Pleasant he was facing "very serious allegations."
Pleasant is due back in court March 17.
Swedberg is a freelance reporter.
