Brian Charles Kirsch

WARSAW — A man was recently arrested after allegedly smothering and battering a woman.

Brian Charles Kirsch, 34, 1433 Cynthia Ave., Park Ridge, Ill., is charged with domestic battery with moderate bodily injury and strangulation, level 6 felonies; and interference with the reporting of a crime and resisting law enforcement, both class A misdemeanors.

On March 14, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer responded to a report of domestic battery at a residence. Upon arrival, after several attempts at knocking at the door, a woman answered and said a man had jumped from a second-floor balcony to flee the scene. The man, later identified as Kirsch, was pursued on foot and attempted to hide under a truck. Kirsch was given multiple commands by officers to stop running and come out from underneath the vehicle. He was then taken into custody. Officers also detected the smell of alcohol coming from Kirsch.

According to court documents, the woman told officers she woke up to Kirsch attempting to smother her. She attempted to fight Kirsch in order to escape. The woman said her mouth began to bleed and that Kirsch took her to the bathroom to clean her face.

The woman said she then called her parents and sent them photos of her injuries. While on the phone, Kirsch fled the residence when he overheard them speaking about calling authorities. The woman attempted to lock the residence so Kirsch could not return; however, he made entry back into the residence and took her cellphone. Kirsch then broke the woman cellphone’s when she told him she would contact law enforcement.

Kirsch was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on March 14, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.