Strangulation, stalking charges dismissed against La Crosse man for lack of evidence

The strangulation case against a La Crosse man arrested last fall has been dismissed.

The La Crosse County District Attorney’s office asked Judge Todd Bjerke to drop six criminal charges against 46-year-old Johnny Foster, whose attorney, May Lee, argued that police didn’t conduct a thorough investigation.

Foster was suspected of trying to choke an ex-girlfriend outside a north La Crosse tavern back in November.

A criminal complaint said Foster was released from prison last year after serving more than 20 years behind bars for a reckless homicide conviction in Milwaukee County.

Foster’s attorney said police failed to contact witnesses who could have provided evidence of Foster’s innocence.

Foster’s accuser had claimed she was lifted onto the hood of a car and choked until another man stopped the attack.