Wisconsin Man Claims 'Ghost' Beat His Wife

A Wisconsin man who is accused of beating his wife claims that her injuries were sustained because of a ghost.

Police in Fond du Lac, Wis., were responding to a 911 call when they arrested Michael West, 41, for a domestic disturbance on the night of Jan. 15, according to a criminal complaint posted by thesmokinggun.com.

West and his spouse got into an argument that night which turned violent. The victim told the police that West strangled her twice and then physically assaulted her by punching her in the face when she attempted to dial 911.

When the police arrived they found West's wife bleeding and visibly shaken. She was "crying very hard and was bleeding out of her nose" according to the complaint.

She told police her husband had repeatedly punched her in the face several times and then choked her until she nearly went unconscious with her vision going black. According to the victim the argument and subsequent physical attack occurred following an argument about financial issues, according to KSEE.

When police asked Michael West what happened, he said his wife had fallen several times, injuring her face. When police asked about the marks on her neck, West changed his story.

During police questioning, West claimed his wife sustained her injuries to her face and neck during several falls. When pressed by a police officer, who pointed to the visible marks on the woman's neck, West, who was intoxicated, changed his story and claimed that "a ghost did it," according to the complaint.

Despite the unusual claim police arrested West and charged him with strangulation, battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

West was handcuffed and placed in police custody and taken to the local jail, while he remains in custody in lieu of $1,000 bail.