Elkhart man charged with domestic battery, strangulation

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- An Elkhart man has been charged with domestic battery and strangulation for an incident involving the mother of his child, according to court records.

On January 14, the victim contacted 25-year-old Matthew Smiechowski and asked him to return their 2 year old child to her home on Lincolnway.

When Smiechowski arrived with their child, he began arguing with the victim.

The victim was holding their child when Smiechowski pushed the victim into a wall, reports said.

Her head and their child's head hit the wall, according to the probable cause affidavit.

After the victim hit the wall, Smiechowski put his hands around the victim's neck and attempted to strangle her while she was holding their child, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The victim got away from Smiechowski and went to her bedroom with her child.

Smiechowski asked her not to call police. When she told him she was calling police, he took away her cell phone, reports said.

When the victim got the phone away from Smiechowski, she called police - and he left, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Police arrived and noticed a cut on the victim's neck.

Smiechowski was charged on March 14 with domestic battery, battery on a person less than 14 years old and strangulation.

He was arrested on March 19.

Court records indicate Smiechowski is facing strangulation and domestic battery charges in Elkhart County and domestic battery and invasion of privacy charges in St. Joseph County involving the same victim.