Wisconsin man faces charges of battery

Arrested Wednesday, ordered held without bail in Lake County

A Wisconsin man faces charges for allegedly throwing a baby against a wall and pistol-whipping a relative, according to court documents.

Rafael A. Banks, 34, of Holmen, Wisconsin, was charged Wednesday with four counts of battery and one count of intimidation, according to Lake Superior Court records.

He was arrested Wednesday and ordered held without bail.

Merrillville police were called at 9 p.m. on Monday to the 1600 block of West 57th Avenue for a reported disturbance. A relative said Banks kicked open his bathroom door, pointed a gun and threatened to kill him, the affidavit alleges.

When the man’s wife tried to block Banks at the bathroom’s doorway, he allegedly grabbed the 11-month-old baby out of her arms and threw the child against a wall. Banks then started pistol-whipping the man.

The wife said she was hit once with the weapon in the face, charges state.

The child was not hurt, documents show.

Banks fled with another relative. He was later arrested in a Hammond traffic stop, according to court documents.

The victim said different sides of the family had been “feuding,” documents state.

A court date has not yet been set.