WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after he stole money and medicine from his roommate. While the two were arguing about the stolen items, he began to strangle her.

Daniel Ray Smith

Daniel Ray Smith, 30, 1022 East Market Street, Warsaw, is being charged with strangulation, a level 6 felony; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and battery, a class A misdemeanor.

On March 18, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a battery call. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the victim. She advised that Smith had been living with her and they had been arguing about rent money. Smith had taken her rent money and refused to give it back.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the argument then turned physical. Smith placed his hands around the victim’s neck and began to strangle her. The victim was unable to breathe and believed she was going to pass out. Smith then punched her in the face and left the residence.

The officer also spoke with one witness who advised he was outside the residence during the battery, doing his paper route. According to the witness, the victim came out of the house and advised that Smith stole her money and medicine and choked her. The witness called 911 for the victim.

Another witness who was outside at the time of the incident advised she heard “a lot of fighting” coming from the apartment, saying it sounded like the victim was being thrown around. She advised that she also heard the victim say she was going to call the cops.

The victim had visible red marks on her neck and the left side of her face. There was also blood on her sweatshirt.

Smith was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on May 10 with a $6,000 bond.