Warsaw Man Accused Of Battering Woman, Damaging Vehicle
Staff Report
WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after allegedly battering a woman and damaging her vehicle.
Ryan Marshal Austin, 43, 255 E. Burkhart Drive, Warsaw, is charged with domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and domestic battery with a prior conviction enhancement, both level 6 felonies; domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor.
On July 30, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy went to a location regarding a domestic battery report. A caller said a woman came to his home and reported a domestic battery issue. The caller also said they heard a gunshot from the home where the incident occurred.
Upon arrival, the deputy met with the caller, who said the woman was in their home. According to court documents, when the deputy entered the caller’s home, he saw the woman laying on the floor underneath a table. She was scared and trying to hide.
The officer noticed the woman had a large swollen area and bruising on her head, as well as a bruised eye and bleeding near her eye. There were also large bruises on her thighs.
The woman told the deputy that she and Austin were on their way home when he became angry. Austin drove into a cornfield on purpose and allegedly hit the woman in the face twice with the back of his hand. Upon arrival at a residence, Austin began causing extensive damage to the woman’s vehicle and broke several of the vehicle’s windows.
Austin told the woman to leave the home. The woman left the residence and hid in nearby bushes, causing bruising to her legs. She returned to the home for a short time, but Austin again told her to leave. After she left the home, the woman heard a gunshot come from the residence.
The woman told officers Austin had a bolt action rifle for target shooting.
Officers went to speak with Austin about what occurred. Austin said he was going to burn the woman’s belongings. Officers noticed a collection of miscellaneous items next to Austin.
Austin told officers he and the woman had an argument. He appeared to be heavily intoxicated at the time and claimed that nothing physical occurred. Austin also refused to speak about the damage to the woman’s vehicle. Officers observed the damage on the woman’s vehicle. The vehicle had its driver’s side window broken out, its rear-view mirror broken off, and multiple deep slashes in its hood.
Inside the residence, officers found a hatchet with red paint similar to the paint on the woman’s vehicle.
Austin was previously convicted of battery in May.
For this case, he has an initial hearing at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30.