WARSAW — One man has been arrested on a preliminary charge of battery causing serious bodily injury. The arrest stemmed from a domestic dispute at 3932 W. Old Road 30, Warsaw, yesterday evening, Aug. 27.

Joseph Waithira

At approximately 6:16 p.m. the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and Warsaw Police Department responded to a domestic dispute involving an ax. According to the report, a male subject was attacking his wife with an ax in the residence. Officers responded to the scene and found the male subject and his wife had entered into an altercation that turned violent. The male subject was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

The wife was found to have sustained serious injuries from the altercation and was airlifted by Lutheran Air Ambulance to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital for treatment. The wife had visible extensive head injuries consistent with a weighted edged weapon and was listed in serious condition as a result of injuries sustained in this incident.

The male subject was identified as Joseph Waithira, 37, Warsaw. Waithira was taken into custody without further incident and was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail. The wife was identified as Sandy Waithira, 33, Warsaw.

The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office advises that the defendant’s charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.