Lake County man accused of choking woman, slicing her hand

A Lincolnshire-area man is accused of choking a woman and cutting her with a knife Wednesday evening in an apartment near Lake Bluff.

Lake County sheriff’s deputies responded to the apartment in the 600 block of Washington Avenue at about 8:25 p.m. for a reported aggravated battery in progress, officials said Thursday.

Someone called 911 reporting a man armed with a knife threatening others inside the apartment, according to the sheriff’s office. The man later was identified as Angel Diaz, 25, of the 400 block of Raphael Avenue, an unincorporated area near Lincolnshire, authorities said.

A preliminary investigation revealed Diaz knew the two people who lived in the apartment, sheriff’s police said. When Diaz arrived, he appeared to be intoxicated, according to witnesses. He began an argument with the 25-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man who live at the apartment, authorities said.

During the argument, Diaz pulled out a knife and slashed at the woman, cutting her hand, then choked her, authorities said.

The woman and the man were able to get away from Diaz and call 911, prompting Diaz to flee, officials said. The woman’s injuries did not require medical attention, authorities said.

Deputies searched the area for Diaz, but were unable to find him. At about 12:45 a.m., sheriff’s emergency dispatchers received a 911 call from the woman saying Diaz was back at the apartment, pounding on the door, and refusing to leave, authorities said.

Deputies responded and took Diaz into custody.

Diaz is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery — strangulation, and aggravated assault.

He was in the Lake County jail Thursday awaiting an initial court hearing.