Man Choked, Beat Woman At Deerpath Inn Before Wedding

LAKE FOREST, IL — A Park Ridge man attending his brother's wedding in Lake Forest allegedly badly beat and choked a woman in her hotel room. The woman, who had been in a relationship with the man, fled the scene to the house of a friend in Skokie, where she reported the incident and went to the hospital, according to police reports. Lake Forest police were notified of the man's room number at the Deerpath Inn and took him into custody without incident.

Brian R. Gallas, 28, of the 2200 block of Milton Avenue in Park Ridge, was arrested at 1:35 p.m. on April 7 at 255 East Illinois Rd. and charged with aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery and unlawful restraint after further investigation by police and prosecutors, according to court records.

Police believe the attack occurred between 10:30 p.m. to midnight on the prior night. The domestic battery charge was aggravated to a felony due to strangulation and causing the survivor of the attack great bodily harm. Reports indicated the woman nearly lost consciousness due to the choking and displayed extensive evidence of serious injuries.

On April 8, a judge set bail at $250,000 and he was appointed a public defender. On April 9, Gallas posted the required 10 percent – $25,000 – as bond and was released from the Lake County Jail, according to the sheriff's office. Police said his next scheduled court date was April 25.

Gallas was taken into custody before the wedding was scheduled to take place. He could not be reached for comment.