Crest Hill Man Tries Strangling Woman At Joliet's Motel 6: Police

JOLIET, IL —Detectives at the Joliet Police Department are looking for a 29-year-old Crest Hill man in connection with a Jan. 10 attack at the Joliet Motel 6 parking lot on Mall Loop Drive. Axel Steven Morales has been charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery and two counts of domestic battery.

Will County Judge Ben Braun signed the warrant for Morales' arrest, setting bail at $100,000.

According to Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English, officers rolled up to the Motel 6 on Mall Loop Drive shortly before 7 a.m. on Jan. 10 after learning that a woman was attacked by someone she knew.

"The victim had visible injuries to her face," Joliet police reports show. "Further investigation determined that as the victim was in her vehicle getting ready to leave, Morales opened the vehicle door and pulled her out by her arm. Morales then struck the victim in the face, pulled her hair, and choked her to the point that she could not breathe."

Morales also took the woman's cell phone and then he drove away before Joliet police learned of the crime, reports state.

Five days later, the Will County State's Attorney's Office filed four criminal charges against Morales. As of Jan. 20, Morales has not been taken into custody.

The Will County Warrants website does not list the pending criminal charges or a photo of Morales.

The warrant for Axel Morales's arrest listed his last known address as being the 2300 block of Caton Farm Road.

He is 5-foot-7, 205 pounds, black hair and hazel eyes; he has tattoos on his chest, left arm and right arm, according to court records.