Alton Man Detained After Allegedly Using Knife In Unlawful Restraint, Domestic Battery Case

ALTON – An Alton man accused of using a knife to illegally detain two people, including a domestic battery victim, is currently in custody pending his latest criminal charges.

Sean M. Scroggins, 44, of Alton, was charged on March 25, 2026 with two Class 3 felony counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and one Class 4 felony count of domestic battery, his second or subsequent such offense.

Scroggins allegedly knowingly detained two people without legal authority while using a carpenter's knife on March 6, 2026. He is additionally accused of knowingly pushing one of the victims, a household or family member, on the same date.

Charging documents note Scroggins had previously been convicted of domestic battery in 2019 from a prior case which was also filed in Madison County.

A petition to deny pretrial release from custody for Scroggins was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office in this case. The petition notes that at the time of these latest offenses, Scroggins was out on pretrial release pending four prior felony charges and six prior misdemeanor charges, including a domestic battery offense involving one of the same victims from this latest case.

According to the petition, Scroggins “became angry and aggressive, armed himself with a carpenter's knife, and informed the two victims that no one was going to leave the residence.”

When police arrived, one victim could reportedly be heard yelling for help before officers made contact with Scroggins through the door as he refused to let officers inside. Police forcibly gained entry into the home due to the urgent circumstances and reported seeing Scroggins with a carpenter’s knife in his hand.

The domestic battery victim in this case reported attempting to leave the residence before Scroggins stood in front of the door with the knife in his hand, while the other victim reportedly attempted to open the door for police but was allegedly pushed away from the door by Scroggins.

The Alton Police Department presented the case against Scroggins, who currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail.

All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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