WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after allegedly striking and strangling a pregnant woman.

Jeffrey James Shelton Jr., 35, of 35 Fairlane Drive, Warsaw, is charged with domestic battery to a pregnant woman and criminal confinement, level 5 felonies; domestic battery with a child under the age of 16 present and strangulation, level 6 felonies; and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on June 14, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department met with a woman who filed a report about Shelton physically abusing her. The woman is pregnant. 

The woman told police that she and Shelton were arguing and that Shelton pushed her into a door frame, then onto a couch and hit her on the side of the head. The woman said she told Shelton to stop because of the baby, and said Shelton responded that he may as well get a knife and kill both the woman and the baby.

The woman said she attempted to call 911, but Shelton took the phone away and removed the battery. The woman said she then yelled out the back door for someone to call 911, but Shelton grabbed her from behind and pulled her back into the house. 

The woman said in addition to Shelton hitting her at least three times in the head, he also used his hands and arm to choke her, making it difficult for her to breathe. The officer observed and photographed swelling above the woman’s right eye, a contusion on the top of her head and bruising, scratches and red marks on her neck. 

Another woman confirmed that Shelton took the pregnant woman’s phone and prevented her from leaving the residence. 

Two children were present in the home at the time the incident occurred. 

Shelton was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail Sept. 11 on an $11,000 surety and cash bond.