Bail Set At $1 Million For Man Accused of Choking Alsip Woman

Bail for a Kankakee man was set at $1 million, who is accused of choking an Alsip woman during a domestic dispute. Hayward Booker appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of aggravated domestic dispute with strangulation. He was also charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Alsip police responded to the 3900 block of West 124th Street around 8:30 p.m. Sept. 26, when a neighbor called to report hearing a woman screaming. When police arrived at the apartment building, Booker was allegedly trying to run out the back door. Police said they found the woman, who had been in a dating relationship with Booker, beaten and bruised in the apartment.

The woman told police that Booker had been sending her texts throughout the day threatening to beat her up, the prosecutor said. She was away from her apartment when Booker texted her to say that he was outside her door, but it was locked. The woman told Booker to climb in through the window. When she returned home, Booker allegedly jumped out and grabbed her.

Booker proceeded to punch and threaten her with a knife, the prosecutor said. He allegedly dragged her into the bathroom where he twice choked her around the neck until she was gasping for air. When she started to scream a neighbor heard her and called police.

Police said the woman’s face was bruised and she had a bloody nose. She also suffered a bump to her head. In addition to the new charge, Booker also has outstanding warrants out of Kankakee.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Booker worked for a temp agency. He was also a graduate of Thornton High School. Felice set bail at $1 million, causing some people in the courtroom to gasp. The attorney asked the judge to reconsider bail.

“I won’t,” Felice said. “Allegedly choking and sucking the air out of someone, not once, but two times.”

Against the advice of the assistant public defender, Booker told the judge, “I’m not that type of person.” His accuser stood up in the courtroom and shouted, “I have the text messages, I’ll show you.” The deputy sheriff ordered her to sit down.

Police said Booker lived in Alsip, but court records indicated Kankakee as his last known address. Booker is due back in court Oct. 19 in Bridgeview. He was ordered to stay away from the woman while the case is pending.