Staff Report

Bradley Victor Waikel

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was recently arrested after battering a woman and stealing her cellphone.

Bradley Victor Waikel, 32, 340 E. Levi Lee Road 123, Warsaw, is charged with strangulation, domestic battery with a child under 16 present, domestic battery with a prior conviction and theft with a prior conviction, all level 6 felonies; and domestic battery and theft, both class A misdemeanors.

On Dec. 13, 2020, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer went to a location regarding a domestic dispute. The person who reported the incident said a woman was battered by Waikel. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the woman about it.

According to court documents, the woman said she and Waikel had an argument at a residence. During the argument, she saw Waikel throw a box of perfume toward a child, which escalated the situation. Waikel then began breaking objects in the residence.

When the woman followed Waikel into a bedroom, Waikel placed his forehead against the woman’s in a threatening manner. He then allegedly placed his hands around the woman’s neck, threw her onto a bed and attempted to take her phone. She refused to give her phone to Waikel, leading Waikel to grab the woman’s arms and pulling them back.

The woman said she heard Waikel hit his head against a wall, causing damage to drywall. He then left the scene with the woman’s cellphone. The woman sustained bruising on her arms.

The officer spoke with the child about the incident. The child said they saw Waikel hurt the woman.

Waikel was previously convicted of theft in 2011 and domestic battery in 2013. For this case, he was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on March 9, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.