Geneva Man Arrested for Unlawful Restraint, Domestic Battery, Interfering With Report of Domestic Violence

Geneva police arrested Guy Birch, 47, of Geneva on charges of unlawful restraint, domestic battery with causes of bodily harm, domestic battery (physical contact) and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence after a series of incidents between 10:30 p.m. Aug. 27 and 1 a.m. Aug. 28 in the 700 block of North Street, reports said.

Reports said Birch began to argue with the victim, his girlfriend, when he came back to their residence around 10:30 p.m.

“Birch held (the victim) down on her sofa by holding both her arms for approximately two hours despite (the victim’s) requests to be let go,” the report said. During this time, Birch “struck her repeatedly in her face and head with a throw pillow. Birch struck (the victim) in her mouth with the back of his hand, causing visible wounds and bleeding to (the victim’s) inside lower lip,” according to reports.

The victim convinced Birch to let her up to go to the bathroom, and she called police on her mobile phone. Birch took the telephone away from her, ran outside with it and threw it in the grass in front of their residence. The phone was later found in the front yard. The victim dialed 911 from her residence telephone, and Birch left the area, reports said.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in Geneva, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify Geneva editor Rick Nagel at rickn@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.