(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man is being held on $4,000 cash bail after police say he choked his partner, smashed her phone to prevent her from calling 911, and briefly resisted arrest while holding a small child.
Zachary J. Simon, 31, appeared in court Friday on four charges stemming from an early morning domestic incident at his residence on 28th Avenue. He is charged with felony strangulation and suffocation, felony intimidation of a victim, misdemeanor battery, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct — all with domestic abuse enhancers.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
According to the criminal complaint, officers with the Kenosha Police Department responded to Simon’s apartment around 3:17 a.m. on May 22 after receiving a 911 call that disconnected. When they arrived, they encountered Simon outside with a child in his arms and the alleged victim, who showed visible signs of distress and injury.
The woman told police that she and Simon had been in a romantic relationship for four years and had recently moved in together. On the night of the incident, she said Simon became enraged after accusing her of cheating. She described him as “very intoxicated,” to the point where she took away his bottle of alcohol in an attempt to calm the situation. Instead, she said, his anger escalated.
Simon allegedly began punching and slapping her repeatedly, striking her face and body. When she attempted to run to a neighbor’s apartment for help, she said Simon pulled her back inside the home and continued the assault. At one point, he allegedly placed both hands around her neck and squeezed, cutting off her air supply for about ten seconds.
Officers documented petechiae — broken blood vessels — in one of her eyes, a symptom consistent with strangulation.
After the alleged choking, the woman attempted to call 911, but Simon reportedly grabbed her phone and smashed it on the ground, breaking it. Police dispatchers confirmed that the call disconnected and that attempts to call back were unsuccessful. The victim told police that Simon then grabbed a knife and threatened to kill himself.
When Officer Free approached the residence, he said he heard shouting from the rear of the building. He observed the woman yelling outside and Simon walking toward a vehicle while holding the child. Concerned that Simon might try to flee or drive off with the child, Officer Free attempted to detain him. Simon briefly pulled away before complying with commands to hand over the child. Officers described him as heavily intoxicated, with slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol.
After being arrested, Simon reportedly banged his head several times against the divider in the police squad car but eventually calmed down.
Commissioner William Michel II set bail at $4,000 cash. Simon remains in custody at the Kenosha County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 30, 2025.
If convicted on all charges, Simon faces up to 17 years and 9 months in prison and fines totaling more than $46,000.
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4 Responses
The “liquid stupid” … will do it every time …
Yeah, i get the whole alcohol thing, but the judge didnt issue a “no contact” order? He did all of this in front of an innocent child? SMH! shame on you!
Trash pos. Hopefully he will have a few years to think about his actions.
I heard is 95 lb boyfriend he chocked out is still having problems