Hair-Pulling Boyfriend Erupts When Girlfriend’s Cooking Sets Off Smoke Alarm: Prosecutor

ORLAND PARK, IL -- An Orland Park man was arrested after he dragged his girlfriend by the hair into a hallway at their apartment. He was also found to be in possession of a small amount of alprazolam, prosecutors said.

Michael Fardig, 26, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was also charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.

The prosecutor said that Orland Park police went to an apartment in the 9500 block of 140th Court around 11:49 p.m. Dec. 6. Fardig reportedly became upset when his girlfriend’s cooking set off the smoke alarm.

Fardig pulled his girlfriend by the hair out into the hallway, then grabbed her hair a second time to pull her back into the apartment, the prosecutor said. He also allowed police to search the premises, where officers said they found a pill-and-a-half of alprazolam.

The woman has been living in Fardig’s apartment, where he is the leaseholder, for approximately four months, Fardig told the judge over the advice of the assistant public defender. The woman is still staying there.

“She has ownership because he let her live there,” Judge Felice said. “You cannot go back there until she leaves.”

The judge told Fardig he can go back with Orland Park police to pick up personal belongings before releasing him on a $25,000 I-bond. Bail for the misdemeanor domestic battery charge was set at $2,000 in another courtroom.

Fardig is due back in court Dec. 30 in Bridgeview.