Caleb Levi Roatcap

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after strangling a female while her two children watched. As officers responded to the battery, the man kicked and spit on officers.

Caleb Levi Roatcap, 25, 808 E. CR 400S, Warsaw, was arrested for domestic battery causing serious bodily injury, a level 5 felony; domestic battery with a child under 16 present, a level 6 felony; strangulation, a level 6 felony; battery causing bodily injury to a law enforcement officer, a level 5 felony; battery by bodily waste a level 6 felony.

On Feb. 2, officers with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a domestic battery call. When officers arrived they were greeted by two children. One of the children was crying and the other told officers “he choked my mom” and “he is still in the room with my mom.”

According to the affidavit of probable cause, officers entered the bedroom of the residence and observed a male holding Roatcap down on the floor. Roatcap had blood on his face, hands and arms. The male told officers he had been downstairs when he heard a commotion in the bedroom. He discovered Roatcap applying a chokehold to the female, causing her to go unconscious. The female was unresponsive and did not appear to be breathing.

During the strangulation, one of the female’s sons began striking Roatcap in the face, trying to stop Roatcap. Officials suspect that is what caused Roatcap’s face to be bloody.

When officers arrived, they attempted to gain control of the situation, but Roatcap resisted. While resisting, Roatcap knocked an officer’s body cam off and the officer was exposed to Roatcap’s blood. Officers then escorted Roatcap to the patrol vehicle. The affidavit states that Roatcap kicked an officer in the stomach, causing physical pain to his abdomen.

While transporting Roatcap, officers received information that Roatcap had taken an overdose of hydrocodone. Roatcap was then transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital. At the hospital, he was handcuffed and leg shackled to the bed to protect the hospital staff. During this time, Roatcap spit on an officer.

The female was also transported to KCH for treatment. She advised that Roatcap became angry when she received a text message from a friend. The female told officers Roatcap put her in a chokehold by wrapping his arms around her neck and she could not breath.

Roatcap was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Feb. 3 with a $10,250 surety and cash bond.