A criminal complaint says a woman suffered a broken back after she was beaten by a 32-year-old La Crosse man.
Ross G. Pickett was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony counts of aggravated battery/intent to cause bodily harm, burglary, second-degree recklessly endangering safety and strangulation/suffocation and misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to dwelling and disorderly conduct.
According to the complaint, the woman told police that Pickett showed up Feb. 12 at her West Salem residence and demanded to be let inside. She said she refused and that Pickett busted down the door to gain entry.
The woman told police she grabbed a kitchen knife to defend herself but was disarmed by Pickett. She said Pickett then grabbed her by the throat and caused her to lose consciousness. Her next memory was being slammed against a wall multiple times. She said Pickett then struck her with a closed fist multiple times in the stomach and ribs. She eventually escaped the residence and called for help.
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The woman described Pickett as an ex-boyfriend and that the two are parents of an 18-month-old child, who was present during the disturbance. She said Pickett had never lived at the residence and had no right to force his way inside.
The complaint says medical staff at a local hospital confirmed the woman suffered a “back fracture” that wasn’t a complete break. An officer at the scene noted the woman had several visible bruises, including marks around her neck.
Pickett turned himself in the following day and was booked into the La Crosse County Jail. He was released two days later with a $10,000 signature bond that includes no contact with the woman and GPS monitoring. His next court date is a March 18 calendar call.