Man accused of beating, extorting a Rockford woman

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police arrested Learnell Brown, 39, for allegedly punching a woman multiple times and extorting her.

On November 4th, police responded to the 2300 block of Canary Drive for a call reporting domestic battery. The victim told officers that Brown physically abused her the day before and only let her leave the house to go to work while he was driving.

Police learned Brown had been incarcerated for 13 years for kidnapping the woman's children and battering her and was recently paroled to Mississippi in July 2024, according to court records.

The victim told authorities Brown was living with her again, but she asked him to leave on November 3rd. This resulted in an argument that escalated to a physical altercation, reports said.

Brown punched the woman multiple times and strangled her, according to court documents. The victim told officers he demanded money until she agreed to transfer $5,000 to his Apple Pay account.

The man reportedly told the woman, "You can get me locked up. I got this money and I won't have to contact anyone."

Brown is charged with domestic battery causing bodily harm and aggravated battery causing strangulation.

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