When a man said he didn’t have a clue how a woman got a broken nose or a busted lip, a deputy apparently didn’t buy that story. The man is facing felony charges of domestic battery and strangulation.

Christopher Michael Whitfield, 37, Bloomfield, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant issued last Friday following an investigation by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Jordan Gooding.

Deputy Gooding responded to an apartment in Switz City around 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, October 14, after someone called dispatch about a battery that occurred during a domestic dispute.

Gooding reported he talked to a woman who had a small laceration across the bridge of her nose, a swollen upper lip with a small laceration inside, and a red neck that appeared to have hand marks across the front and both sides of her neck. He took photographs.

According to Gooding, the woman said Whitfield started punching her while they were sitting on the couch and was saying things as if he wanted her to fight him. She said she jumped over the couch to get away but he grabbed her around the throat and she could not breathe. The altercation continued inside the residence then when she was able to run outside, she grabbed his cell phone on the way.

She said when he followed her, she threw the phone back to him and ran back inside the house and he then left the area.

The officer attempted to locate Whitfield, without success, but he did make contact with him by phone the next day.

Gooding reported Whitfield said they had gotten into a little argument, she pushed him, he pushed her once and then grabbed his keys and left. He said he had no clue how she got the busted lip or broken nose.

Gooding said Whitfield has a prior conviction for domestic battery.

A criminal case was filed against Whitfield last week and a warrant issued. After he was booked in to jail, his bond was set at $8,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. After he posted $800 cash, Whitfield was released and given a court date.

When Whitfield appears for his initial hearing in Greene Superior Court on November 5, he will be formally charged with domestic battery – where the defendant has a prior conviction for battery, a Level 6 felony, and strangulation, a Level 6 felony.