Joliet patient spat ‘bloody saliva’ in officer’s face: cops

A man was arrested at AMITA Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet when he spat bloody saliva on the face of an officer responding to a report of him threatening to harm staff, police said.

About noon Saturday, officers were sent to St. Joe’s hospital at 333 Madison St. in response to a report of an “out of control patient on the eighth floor,” according to a Joliet police news release.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they determined Gregory Rideout, 21, of the 400 block of Market Street was a patient at the hospital and was “threatening to harm staff with the medical equipment in his room,” police said.

“While attempting to restrain Rideout, he spit bloody saliva in the face of an officer,” police said.

Rideout was arrested and taken to the Will County jail after his release from the hospital.

Rideout was charged Monday with aggravated battery to a police officer in connection with the incident, court records show. He was scheduled to appear Monday morning at the Will County Courthouse.