By SYDNEY KENT
A man from Bluffton was arrested in connection to a 911 hang-up call on Jan. 19.
Trey Allen O’Reilly, 23, Bluffton, was charged with domestic battery in the presence of a child and strangulation, both Level 6 felonies, and disorderly conduct — unreasonable noise, a Class A misdemeanor.
At approximately 11:13 p.m. on Friday, police responded to a call in the 100 block of Union Street. Upon arrival, officers overheard the sound of a woman crying and a man’s voice inside of the residence. Officers advised they spotted a male and female subject through the window, however, neither appeared to be in distress. After several attempts to ask the individuals to open the door, officers left.
Less than an hour later, units were dispatched back to the residence in reference to three subjects running out of the building into a vehicle across the street. Officers found the door to the residence open with O’Reilly inside. He reportedly yelled and screamed that he was going to go to jail for defending himself.
A witness told officers that O’Reilly took the cell phone of his girlfriend, Madeline Shanks, as she attempted to call the police or her mother. O’Reilly then allegedly threw Shanks on the ground and strangled her. When officers arrived, he instructed Shanks and several others in the residence to stay silent. An additional witness confirmed the report and added that Shanks said she could not breathe.
When officers placed O’Reilly in cuffs, he allegedly screamed for his mother until he was issued a charge for disorderly conduct.
Officers requested charges for Madeline Shanks, 20, for domestic battery with a child present, a Level 6 felony, and illegal possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor, a Class C misdemeanor. Shanks did not receive the count for domestic battery, but was charged with disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor.
A no contact order was issued between O’Reilly and Shanks. O’Reilly’s bond is set at $31,000. A status hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the Wells Superior Court.
sydney@news-banner.com
