ELYRIA, OHIO — A 33-year-old Elyria man was arrested in the early morning hours of July 30, 2025, following a domestic violence investigation that led to felony charges.
According to Elyria police, officers responded to an apartment on Fox Hill Lane after a woman reported being assaulted by James E. Vines Jr., a man she had previously been in a relationship with. The woman told police she had allowed Vines to visit their children late Tuesday night, but said he refused to leave and became physically aggressive after an argument.
She alleged that Vines forced her to the ground, covered her mouth, and grabbed her by the throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. Officers noted visible injuries, including a large bruise on her arm and smaller scrapes. Photographs were taken and submitted as evidence.
Vines turned himself in at the Lorain County Jail around 3:30 a.m. and is being held without bond.
He is charged with strangulation, a third-degree felony; domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and assault, also a first-degree misdemeanor. The felony charge was enhanced due to a prior conviction for felonious assault, according to court records.
Police said the woman signed criminal complaints and completed a lethality assessment under Marsy’s Law.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.