A 37-year-old Shiloh man was charged with assault Thursday after allegedly punching an elderly man in the face while he was taking his morning stroll.

Changa J. Bakar was charged with aggravated assault of a person over the age of 60, a class 3 felony, by St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office.

Shiloh Detective Sgt. Kyle Bade said the 69-year-old victim was walking about 8 a.m. Monday in the 4100 block of Old School House Court when a man identified as Bakar came out of his residence and struck the victim in the face.

"The suspect has mental problems and thought the victim was looking kind of suspect," Bade said.

The victim went to the hospital as a precaution and was treated and released. He then reported the incident to Shiloh police about 11:50 a.m. Monday.

Bakar is currently being held in St. Clair County Jail on $20,000 bail. If convicted, he faces between two and five years in prison.