Strangling Defendant Regains Freedom After SAFE-T-Act Hearing

JOLIET — Despite the efforts of the Will County State's Attorney's Office to keep 33-year-old Jose Lopez-Valladares detained in the Will County Jail following his strangling arrest by Braidwood police, Will County Judge Derek Ewanic has ruled against detention, allowing the Braidwood man to regain his freedom.

Following last week's arrest by Braidwood police, prosecutors charged Lopez with aggravated domestic battery and four counts of domestic battery.

According to the prosecution's detention petition trying to keep Lopez in the jail, Braidwood police were sent to the 100 block of Fossil Lake Court for a car alarm call on March 26. Lopez was inside the black Toyota car and when the officers used their flashlight to illuminate the car, Lopez stopped holding the horn down.

Court documents show that when the police made Lopez step outside, he was only wearing red boxer briefs. Officers saw a woman standing near the residence and she told Braidwood police that Lopez "was drinking (and she) took the car keys away so defendant would not drive, at which point, (he) got angry ... and threw her to the ground several times, both inside and outside the residence," court records indicate.

The bleeding woman showed the police a wrapped bandage of her left shin with scrape marks on her elbows.

As for Lopez, when asked if he threw the woman to the ground, he replied, "A little bit."

Lopez then scolded the Braidwood police, telling them "you hear her because (she) is a woman, but it's not the truth."

Lopez "advised he was blasting his horn because he wanted someone to come help," the petition noted. "Defendant denied chasing (her) when asked by officers ... defendant stated (she) always has marks on her, all the time, and that maybe she received the marks from her lovers."

The victim told Braidwood police that Lopez was drinking and put her in a chair and he began to hold her and she "didn't want (Lopez) in her space so she pushed him away. (He) held her by her hair and had her in a headlock, (she) bit defendant. (She) advised that her breathing was impacted. Defendant then threw her to the ground," court documents advised.

After hearing evidence presented in court, Judge Ewanic ruled in Lopez's favor, ordering his release from the Will County Jail under the SAFE-T-Act. The Braidwood defendant was ordered to be on electronic monitoring while his criminal case is pending.