Staff Report

Stephen James O’Connell

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

Stephen James O’Connell, 38, 602 W. Winona Ave. No. 3, Warsaw, is charged with domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and strangulation, both level 6 felonies.

On Oct. 31, a Warsaw Police officer spoke with a woman about a domestic incident. The woman said that earlier in the day, she was in a vehicle with O’Connell when a verbal argument began.

According to court documents, the argument became physical when O’Connell allegedly hit the woman in the face. After hitting her, O’Connell climbed on top of her in the driver’s seat and pressed her head against a window.

The woman also said O’Connell pulled her hair and choked her to the point where she vomited.

The officer noticed the woman’s left eye had a popped blood vessel; he also noticed bruising and swelling on her left eyebrow, bruises on her arms, and several knots on her head. The woman said the popped blood vessel was actually caused during a physical altercation with O’Connell on Oct. 30.

O’Connell told officers that he was upset with the woman but said the woman hit and choked him. However, another officer said O’Connell told him that the woman never touched him.

O’Connell is currently released from custody on a recognizance bond for methamphetamine possession.

In this case, O’Connell was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 31, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.