A 24-year-old man has been charged in St. Clair County with felony aggravated domestic battery and reckless discharge of a firearm following a Dec. 23 incident that started at a residence on Floraville Road.

Charged in the incident was Matthew E. Fauke, 24, of 3737 Floraville Road near Paderborn. Judge Stephen Rice set bond at $100,000. He is currently being held in the St. Clair County Jail.

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department deputies were first dispatched to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville, in reference to a 21-year-old woman from the Millstadt area who claimed she was held against her will and battered by an ex-boyfriend.

Police observed numerous injuries and bite marks on the victim, and her entire face was swollen. The woman told police she had agreed to meet up with her ex-boyfriend, Fauke, and went to his residence.

During their conversations he allegedly became angry with the victim and began beating her with her cell phone and his fists, police said. He also refused to let her leave. The beating lasted more than an hour, police said.

Fauke then allegedly retrieved a pistol and shot through the window.  He told her he was going to kill her then himself.  After further conversation, she was able to talk him into bringing her to her parent’s house near Millstadt. Police said Fauke then drove the victim around for about two hours before finally letting her off at her parent’s house.

The victim’s parents immediately took her to the hospital.  Due to the serious nature of her injuries, she was then transported to a St. Louis hospital, police said.

When deputies visited Fauke, he was covered in blood.  An Illinois State Police crime scene unit also responded to the scene.

“This unfortunate situation involving domestic violence is more prevalent than the average person knows,” St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson said.  “Please seek help right away and get away from the aggressor. The deputies involved in this investigation took swift action, which resulted in his arrest and charging.”