A Chicago man is facing multiple charges stemming from allegedly strangling and assaulting a woman in Hammond on Christmas Eve.
Alyas Rojas Love, 24, is charged with attempted rape, a Level 3 felony; two counts of felony criminal confinement; strangulation, a Level 6 felony; sexual battery, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor domestic battery.
On Dec. 24, Hammond Police responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence in the 400 block of Detroit Street, according to the probable cause affidavit. The woman told police that an acquaintance was inside her house and strangled her. Police saw a man walking down the stairs while getting dressed, court records state. Police began speaking with Love in the dining room. Love said he and the victim got into an argument but denied it was physical, was evasive about answering questions directly, and kept saying “no one was the main aggressor,” records state.
The victim told police that she and Love were previously in a relationship, but she felt bad when he called her and invited him over. She said Love was clearly intoxicated when he arrived, the affidavit states. She excused herself to the bathroom, but Love followed her. While she was in the bathroom, Love grabbed her face and began kissing her, court records state. He lifted her off the toilet and removed her clothes. He then removed his pants, turned her around, and tried to force her to have sex with him even though she repeatedly asked him to stop, records state.
He then turned her around, grabbed her by the neck, lifted her into the air, and repeatedly slammed her against the wall. Eventually, he let her go and she exited the bathroom, the affidavit states.
He followed her out, grabbed her neck again, and slammed her against the kitchen wall. He told her “You aren’t going to leave me” and “You aren’t going to break up with me,” court records state. She was able to get away from Love and grabbed a knife to defend herself. She locked herself in a bedroom to call 911, records state.
Police said the victim’s neck and collarbone showed redness from where she said Love strangled her as were her left shoulder blade and back from where he slammed her against the wall.