DeKalb man arrested after woman punched in face, her phone stolen and vehicle damaged

DeKALB – A DeKalb man on electronic home monitoring has been arrested in connection with an incident the previous week where a woman was punched in the face, her phone stolen and the car she was driving damaged, court records show.

Keith T. Ford, 33, of the 800 block of Edgebrook Drive in DeKalb, was arrested and charged with theft from person, a Class 2 felony; aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony; and criminal damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted of the most serious of these charges, Ford could face up to seven years in prison.

DeKalb police were called at 3:23 a.m. Saturday, June 12, to the 1200 block of Hawthorne Lane for a report of a domestic dispute, according to court documents. Police said the woman had fresh blood on her arms, face and shirt, and police said they also saw blood in the passenger seat of the car she was driving.

The woman told police she had driven to Hawthorne Lane with the car, which belonged to her friend, to pick up the friend, court documents show. She said a man approached her, demanded the keys to the vehicle and then took a glass bottle and threw it at the back passenger window, breaking it.

“[The woman] stated that she told Keith she was going to call the police,” police wrote. “When she told him this, Keith started to punch her in the face multiple times with a closed fist. At the time, [the woman] was sitting in the driver seat of the vehicle.”

The punches caused the woman’s nose to bleed, according to court documents.

According to court documents, Ford continued to punch the woman in the face and she attempted to dial 911 in the meantime. Police wrote Ford allegedly took the woman’s iPhone 8 from her hand and ran.

The woman later identified Ford in a photo lineup, according to police.

“[Ford] is currently on DeKalb County electronic home monitoring,” police wrote. “Keith’s location from the home monitoring showed him in the area of Hawthorne Lane during the time of the reported incident.”

Ford previously was placed on electronic home monitoring for a 2019 felony domestic battery charge, according to DeKalb County court records.

Ford is due back in court 2 p.m. July 21.