Owen Bauler, 62, was charged with battery and bodily harm after police responded to a brawl at a retirement community in the 9700 block of Greenwood at about 4 a.m. Thursday.

Police arrived to find the victim, David Adams, 85, lying on a stretcher waiting to be transported to the emergency room at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Adams, who had fresh blood coming out of cuts on his face and neck, said he woke up at 3 a.m. and told his roommate, Bauler, to turn off the television. Adams got up from his bed, an argument ensued and then, according to what he told police, Bauler got out of bed and began hitting him. He fell to the ground but Bauler kept punching him in the face. Two nurses heard the noise and came in to separate the two men. 

The witnesses later told police that when they entered the room, they found Adams laying on the floor and Bauler on top of him punching him with both fists. The witnesses saw lacerations on the victim's face but no injuries on Bauler.

Bauler told police he was asleep at 3 a.m. when Adams initiated the squabble by punching him in the face for no reason. 

Police took Bauler, who recently had part of his right foot amputated, and to the police station for the interview, then took him back to the retirement community/nursing home for treatment of the aftermath of his surgery. They planned to place Adams on a different floor of the facility after he returned from the hospital and monitor him. 

Bauler's court date is March 14 in the Skokie branch of the Cook County courts.

Husband, wife involved in domestic dispute

The brother of a 38-year-old woman called police Feb. 13 to report a domestic dispute between his sister and her 42-year-old husband.  The couple, who live in the 7800 block of Oleander, had been arguing about their marriage. Police issued domestic violence forms and made a referral to social services.