A Lake Station man was arrested Sunday on charge of domestic battery and strangulation after he tried to push a woman beneath a moving train, Portage Police said.

William J. Emard, 32, was being held on no bond at the Porter County Jail.

According to police, at 3:47 a.m. officers were dispatched to the Woodland Village mobile home park in response to a report of a woman’s being choked and dragged down Fifth Street in the park. Officers searched for the woman and found her in an area not far from her residence.

The victim advised police that her ex-boyfriend, Emard, had forced his way into her residence and began battering her, then grabbed her by the hair and shoulders, took her outside, and dragged her down the street to a set of railroad tracks, informing her on the way that if he cannot “have her, no one will have” her, the victim advised.

Emard managed to shove the victim to within six feet of a passing train, she advised police, close enough for her to see the undercarriages of the cars. For an unknown reason Emard stopped trying to push her beneath the train, the victim advised, and fled the area when he heard police sirens.

Emard was found hiding not far from where he had released the victim and was apprehended by a K-9 unit, police said.

The victim advised police that she had filed a restraining order against Emard two moths ago and that he had been arrested several times on charges of violating that order.

Police said that the Porter County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case and that additional charges may be filed against Emard.

Posted 3/31/2008