Crime & Courts

Chicago man charged with beating, strangling disabled DeKalb woman

Man charged after alleged beating, threatening woman with knife

DeKALB - A Chicago man is facing charges after police allege he beat and strangled a DeKalb woman who is disabled, and threatened her with a knife.

Kenneth Pratt, 50, of the 700 block of Claremont Avenue in Chicago, is charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, domestic battery and unlawful interference with a police report. If convicted of the most serious crime, aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, Pratt could face up to seven years in prison and fines up to $25,000.

According to DeKalb County court records, the incident allegedly occurred April 2 and Pratt was wanted on a warrant as of April 5. He was arrested by DeKalb police on that warrant Wednesday, and appeared before DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick for a bond hearing Thursday.

According to DeKalb police reports, officers were called to an apartment in the 800 block of Ridge Drive on April 3 shortly before 6 a.m. for reports of a domestic battery. Upon arrival, officers spoke to the victim, a DeKalb woman, who alleged Pratt had accused her of infidelity and slapped and hit her across the face around 2:30 p.m. the day prior, April 2.

The woman also told police Pratt allegedly grabbed her by the throat with both hands and strangled her, constricting her airway and impeding her breathing. She told police she was also allegedly bitten by Pratt.

During the interview, officers reported that they saw cuts inside of the woman’s upper and lower lips and a scratch under her lower lip, along with puncture marks on her left ring and pinky fingers. Police reported that they took photos of the woman’s injuries.

The woman also said Pratt allegedly took her cellphone away so she could not call 911 during the incident. She alleged Pratt grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it at her threateningly, telling her if she called the police, he would kill her, reports state.

According to police reports, the woman is physically disabled per the State of Illinois. She told police she attempted to get up multiple times to walk out of the apartment door or to the window to yell for help and each time, Pratt allegedly pushed her back down onto a bed.

The woman told police she yelled for help many times but no neighbors responded or called police.

Pratt is next scheduled for an arraignment at 9:15 a.m. on June 15 in front of Buick.

Kelsey Rettke

Kelsey Rettke

Kelsey Rettke is the editor of the Daily Chronicle, part of Shaw Media and DeKalb County's only daily newspaper devoted to local news, crime and courts, government, business, sports and community coverage. Kelsey also covers breaking news for Shaw Media Local News Network.