Strangulation Attempt Lands Plainfield Man In Will County Jail: Police

PLAINFIELD, IL — After beating up a woman and battering a police officer on Nov. 7, a Plainfield man was charged with multiple counts of aggravated and domestic battery, officials said.

Plainfield police were dispatched at 6:34 p.m. Nov. 7 to a residence in the 25500 block of Gateway Circle for a domestic battery report. Police said residents called 911 after their neighbor came to their home with visible injuries, saying, "He hit me," Commander Anthony Novak told Patch.

Upon arriving, officers saw "several visible injuries to the female’s face, neck, and numerous other parts of her body." She told police that during a verbal argument, the man, identified as Eric Ziegler, grabbed her by the throat and shoulders, lifted her in the air and threw her to the ground, where he proceeded to punch her in the face, Novak said.

While the police spoke with the victim and complainants, the 44-year-old Ziegler stood on the porch "screaming and yelling in their direction," according to Novak.

Plainfield paramedics later took the woman to a hospital due to the extent of her injuries. Afterward, officers went back to Ziegler's residence, where police say he was "highly uncooperative" with officers, who stood on the porch. As Ziegler tried going back inside, police told him he was under arrest on domestic battery charges, Novak said.

While on the way to the Plainfield Police Department, police say Ziegler hit his head against the car's partition, prompting officers to request an ambulance to police headquarters.

Ziegler was placed inside a cell to await medics' arrival, who arrived a short while later. While being evaluated, the man "lowered his head and lunged into an officer," battering him, Novak said.

Ziegler was then taken to a local hospital, cleared by a doctor and medically released. He was then taken to the Will County jail and charged with the following:

• Aggravated battery to a peace officer
• Aggravated domestic battery, strangulation
• Aggravated battery, strangulation
• Three counts of domestic battery, physical contact
• Domestic battery, bodily harm