Snack Attack? Man Accused of Choking Stepson After Bag of Doritos Goes Missing

Upset that someone ate his Doritos, a Greenfield man is facing felony charges after police say he yelled at, chased and choked his 12-year-old stepson.

The 31-year-old man, whom Patch is not naming to protect the victim's identity, was charged Monday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with felony physical abuse of a child, and strangulation and suffocation.

The incident happened Saturday when the man got angry after finding out that someone in his house ate a bag of the snacks. 

The man began yelling at and pushing his 12-year-old stepson. Trying to avoid his stepfather, the victim attempted to run upstairs, but the man grabbed at his feet, according to the criminal complaint.  

“Don’t touch me,” the victim said, which further upset the suspect, authorities say.

The victim was able to run upstairs and tried to lock himself in a bathroom. The man followed in chase, pushing his way into the bathroom, pushing the victim into a tub and pushing his knee into his chest, the criminal complaint says.

The victim broke away and ran into a bedroom, but the suspect followed, pinning the boy to a bed and choking him, the criminal complaint reads.

The stepfather refused to let up, court documents say, when the victim said he couldn’t breathe.

The victim eventually escaped the house by jumping from a second-story balcony and running to a neighbor’s house to call police.

The victim sustained bruising, petechia and scratching to his neck, the court documents say.

According to the Greenfield Police Department report, the man told police his stepson started yelling and swearing at him after he had asked his stepson to do some chores. He told police his stepson was kicking and punching him as he tried to go upstairs to the bathroom to "cool off."

The stepfather told police he tried to take away his stepson's phone and put him in a bear hug, which may have resulted in the boy's injuries.

If conviction, the man could face up to 12 years in prison and/or $20,000 in fines.

The man, who was released on a signature bond, has a June 25 court date.

Greenfield Patch editor David Cotey contributed to this story.