Police arrest man after hospital altercation

A Bloomington man was arrested Saturday after allegedly strangling an IU Health Bloomington Hospital staff member.

William E. Stewart, 53, was being released from the hospital following treatment when he became disorderly, said Sgt. Shane Rasche of the Bloomington Police Department.

A hospital staffer told police he was escorting Stewart through the ambulance bay when the suspect acted like he was falling. Instead, the victim said Stewart lunged at him, putting both hands around his neck and strangling him.

Other staff members pulled Stewart off the victim and detained him until officers arrived.

When police were arresting the suspect, he kicked the passenger door of a squad car and threatened to kick out a window, Rasche said.

Stewart was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and strangulation, a class D felony.

— Jake New