Sweaty, Wild-Eyed Houseguest Choked and Battered Host: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A sweaty, wild-eyed Naperville man watching television with a friend from Joliet pushed his host around and choked him when he was told to leave, police said.

Alexander Branda, 34, was charged with battery in connection with the 11:30 p.m. Sunday incident.

Branda also turned out to have a warrant for his arrest charging that he failed to appear in court for a previous battery case. The warrant landed him in jail.

Branda had been hanging out all day with a 37-year-old Joliet man when they decided to go to the older friend’s home to watch TV, police said.

Branda made several trips to the bathroom, police said, and eventually emerged sweaty and with dilated eyes.

Without provocation, Branda allegedly started yelling at the Joliet man and bumped him with his chest. The Joliet man then ordered Branda to leave and accompanied him to the garage to get his things.

In the garage, Branda pushed the other man against a car, grabbed his throat, choked him and asked him if he wanted to die, police said. Then he left.

The man learned Branda hitched a ride with another friend to a gas station on Route 59, called the cops and told them they could find him there. The police did reportedly locate Branda at the gas station and took him into custody.