Markus Ferguson

KOSCIUSKO — A Cromwell man is facing charges after allegedly choked a female and refusing to let her leave her residence. 

Markus John Ferguson, 46, 12113 N. Beau Peep Lane, Cromwell, is being charged with criminal confinement, a level 3 felony; intimidation with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; strangulation, a level 6 felony; and domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, a level 6 felony. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on July 11, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer responded to a domestic battery complaint. The officer spoke with the victim, who said that she was at her residence when Ferguson became upset with her and placed her in a chokehold. The victim told police that Ferguson used his biceps and forearm to choke her to the point she could not breathe and believed she was going to pass out.

The victim was able to break free from the chokehold, and Ferguson allegedly smashed her face into the floor. When she got up, she said Ferguson grabbed her and placed her in a chokehold. 

According to the victim, Ferguson then forced her to sit in a chair. At that time, she reported that Ferguson was holding a baseball bat and had a large kitchen knife in his back pocket.

The victim said Ferguson told her he kills b****** like her. She told police Ferguson would not allow her to leave the residence. When the woman had a chance, she ran out the front door and down the road.

The officer observed that the woman had redness on her neck, redness on her right bicep and a contusion on her right wrist. The woman’s shirt was also ripped at the collar. She was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. 

Police spoke with a man and woman who said they found the victim near their residence. The woman told them she wanted to go back to her residence to obtain her belongings. The man and woman went with her. They were met inside the residence by Ferguson, who ordered the man out of the house. 

Ferguson went to the garage and grabbed a metal broom handle, then went to the kitchen and picked up a large kitchen knife, held it in his hand and walked toward the man. The man said he then left the residence.

Ferguson was arrested and booked at the Kosciusko County Jail July 11, on a $5,250 surety and cash bond.