Man Charged With Choking Daughter, 7

CHICAGO (STMW) -- A Back of the Yards neighborhood man has been charged with choking his 7-month-old daughter who had to be hospitalized earlier this week.

Steven Rossel, 26, of the 1400 block of West 48th Street, was arrested at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital about 8 a.m. Thursday, according to police.

The 7-month-old victim suffered bruises and redness to her neck after her father used his hands to choke her on at least two occasions before she was taken to the hospital Wednesday, according to a police report.

Rossel was charged Thursday night with two counts of aggravated domestic battery, according to police, who said they are also looking into allegations that on Oct. 6, 2010, he battered and choked his girlfriend, the mother of the victim.

Police began investigating after a notification came in on the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' child abuse hotline.

A DCFS spokesman did not immediately have information.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2011. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)