Staff Report

Jaron Wesley Wiggs

WINONA LAKE — A Milford man was arrested in two cases after choking a woman and later failing to report to jail.

In the first case, Jaron Wesley Wiggs, 32, 406 Lehman Drive, Milford, is charged with burglary, a level 3 felony; criminal confinement, a level 5 felony; domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, strangulation, and domestic battery with a prior conviction, all level 6 felonies; and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor. Wiggs was also charged with failure to return to lawful detention, a level 6 felony, in a second case.

On Feb. 10, a Winona Lake police officer went to a residence regarding a domestic disturbance. The caller who reported the disturbance said they saw a woman who looked extremely distressed run out of a house.

Upon arrival at the scene, the officer saw a woman with multiple facial lacerations, bruises on her arms and a head injury. According to court documents, the woman said Wiggs hit her multiple times and confined her in her residence.

Wiggs had contacted the woman around midnight and asked she come and pick him up. The woman said Wiggs then came home with her and spent the night. In the morning, the woman found drug paraphernalia in Wiggs’ bag and told him to leave. She then took Wiggs back to his vehicle and returned home.

Upon going home, Wiggs contacted the woman and yelled at her, accusing her of stealing drugs from him. Wiggs allegedly threatened the woman and said he was going to kick her door in.

Shortly after Wiggs threatened the woman, Wiggs arrived at the woman’s residence and kicked the door in. Once inside, Wiggs grabbed the woman, hitting her and choking her. At one point, Wiggs grabbed the woman by the neck to prevent her from leaving the residence.

Wiggs is currently on probation for the offense of battery, a level 6 felony.

On May 28, Wiggs, who was incarcerated at the Kosciusko County Jail awaiting trial, entered into a stipulation that he be released for a temporary period of time for the limited purpose of obtaining medical treatment. The court signed an order for release that required Wiggs return to the custody of the jail on or before June 10.

The original time period was extended by court order on June 10 and June 23. Each time, Wiggs signed the stipulation requesting an extension of the release period and acknowledging the requirement to surrender himself to the jail.

According to court documents, the final extension order on June 23 required that Wiggs report back to jail on or before 5 p.m. July 12. Wiggs did not report to jail as ordered.

A Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer received notice from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office that Wiggs was booked in the Marshall County Jail on July 12 for operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct.