Lawrence man facing battery charge

Douglas County prosecutors Tuesday filed charges of battery and violation of a protective order against a 26-year-old Lawrence man for an alleged incident Monday afternoon with his girlfriend.

Police said they had to force their way into a central Lawrence residence Monday after a neighbor called about a disturbance and officers heard a woman screaming for help. Officers said they found the man battering his 22-year-old girlfriend. The woman had injuries to her face and neck but did not need medical attention.

According to jail records, the man was also booked Monday on suspicion of rape, but District Attorney Charles Branson said Tuesday there was nothing to substantiate that allegation at this time.

In connection with a separate incident on Aug. 2, police arrested the man on rape and domestic battery charges after the woman had gone to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and alleged her boyfriend assaulted her at the central Lawrence residence. But he was released from jail Aug. 4 after Branson said prosecutors were seeking more information from investigators about that incident before making a decision about charges.

The Journal-World generally does not identify sex crime suspects unless they are convicted.