McHenry man charged with stabbing girlfriend

A McHenry man previously accused of trying to drown a Grayslake police officer who had chased him into a pond is back behind bars after his arrest early Tuesday on charges he stabbed his girlfriend during a domestic dispute.

Roger E. Phelps, 37, faces a charge of aggravated domestic battery stemming from the Monday night altercation that left the 43-year old victim with a cut on her right hip that required stitches to close, police said.

Phelps, of the 3400 block of West Venice Court, also faces numerous felony drug and weapons charges after officers found a small amount of suspected cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, 11/2 pounds of marijuana and ammunition in his residence while investigating the stabbing, McHenry Deputy Police Chief John Jones said.

Police began the investigation just before midnight Monday after receiving a call that a woman had shown up at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington with a 3-inch stab wound. After speaking with the victim, Jones said, officers went to Phelps' home where they spotted drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view. Officers also recovered a kitchen knife they believe was used in the stabbing.

Phelps was arrested and transferred to the McHenry County jail, where he will remain pending a bond hearing Wednesday morning. If convicted of the aggravated domestic battery charge, he could face up to seven years in prison.

He was sentenced to four years in prison in 2005 after a judge found him guilty of aggravated battery - but acquitted him of an attempted murder charge - for a fight with police during an Aug. 5, 2004, traffic stop on Route 120 in Grayslake.

Authorities said Phelps fled from the stop into a retention pond. When officers followed him into the water, police said, Phelps grabbed one around the neck and held his head underwater at least twice. A judge ruled there was no evidence Phelps intended to kill the officer.