DeKalb man charged with beating, strangling woman in DeKalb apartment

DeKALB - A DeKalb man is facing charges after prosecutors say he beat a woman, strangled her and hit her in the head with a tray.

Craig T. Jenkins, 33, of the 800 block of Ridge Drive, is charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, unlawful restraint and domestic battery. If convicted of the most serious crime, aggravated domestic battery, Jenkins could face up to seven years in jail and fines up to $25,000. Jenkins also has an address in Chicago, court records show.

According to DeKalb County court records, Jenkins was arrested by DeKalb police on Tuesday due to an incident which allegedly occurred at 6:48 p.m. inside an apartment in the 800 block of Ridge Drive.

On Tuesday evening, DeKalb police responded to reports of a man dragging a woman. A second caller her called 911 told police that a family member of hers was trying to get away from the man, identified as Jenkins, records state.

Jenkins appeared from the DeKalb County Jail virtually Wednesday for a bond hearing in front of DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick.

Police were not able to locate the man or woman involved in the alleged incident immediately after the call, though during a second attempt to check the apartment on Ridge Drive, police made contact with the woman, according to court records.

The woman told police Jenkins allegedly wished to go through her phone, and then began hitting her with his fist. He allegedly grabbed the woman by her throat and began to restrict her airway, the woman told police. She reported that she thought at that point she was going to pass out.

Jenkins allegedly then searched through the woman’s phone, and began hitting her again, at which point he allegedly struck her head against a wall and hit her in the head with a tray. The police report does not specify what type of tray was allegedly used.

The woman told police that during the altercation, she was able to get out of the apartment and run away from Jenkins, who allegedly followed her and dragged her back into the apartment. He then stood in front of the woman and blocked her ability to exit the place, and told her she couldn’t leave, reports allege.

When police interviewed the woman, they reported that she had several marks visible on her body which she said was caused by Jenkins.

Jenkins told Buick Wednesday he would hire a private attorney, though Buick appointed public defender Tom McCulloch to represent him for the bond hearing. Buick gave Jenkins a $15,000 recognizance bond, meaning he would leave jail on his signature that day. Buick ordered Jenkins not to have any contact with the woman while he awaits further court proceedings. He will also be placed on an electronic home monitoring device.

DeKalb County prosecutors asked for his bond to be set at $25,000.

Buick said Jenkins has prior domestic battery misdemeanor conviction, and was sentenced to 11 months conditional discharge from the 2011 case in Kane County. Jenkins also has a pending misdemeanor battery case in Kendall County.

Jenkins is next set to appear for arraignment and a status hearing on July 8 in courtroom 230.