Staff Report

John Michael-Ezra Phillips

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man was recently arrested after allegedly battering a child.

John Michael-Ezra Phillips, 29, 981 S. 50E, Columbia City, is charged with domestic battery on a person less than 14 years old and strangulation, both level 6 felonies.

On March 5, law enforcement in Whitley County received information from the Department of Child Services about a child abuse assessment. DCS said a child was choked by Phillips before they went to school.

According to court documents, the caseworker spoke with the child about the incident. The child didn’t have any visible marks on them but according to the caseworker, they appeared extremely truthful about being choked by Phillips.

In an interview with law enforcement on March 8, the child brought up being choked by Phillips without any prompt. They said they were crying because they missed their mom, which allegedly made Phillips mad. The child said Phillips choked and pushed them.

The child’s mother said she never witnessed Phillips physically harm the child, but admitted that Phillips had a temper.

On March 11, law enforcement learned the child had a diagnosis of high functioning autism.

Law enforcement went to speak with Phillips on March 19. In an interview, Phillips said he never hurt the child but put his hands on their shoulders to calm them down.

Phillips was booked in the Whitley County Jail on March 26.