INDIANAPOLIS - Four children came to the defense of their mother in an attack on Indianapolis' south side Tuesday night, police said.

The incident happened about 9:15 p.m. at an apartment in the 1400 block of Salisbury lane, according to a police report.

Police said two of the older children, ages 14 and 12, were punched in the face and thrown into a wall while trying to protect their mother, Precious Croom, 33.

The police report indicated that Tommy Mitchell, 23, of Indianapolis was upset with Croom because he had heard she had been seeing another man.

Police said Mitchell left the home before police arrived, but he was arrested nearly two hours later when he was seen outside the apartment.

He faces charges of battery, domestic battery, strangulation and interfering with the reporting of a crime.