Noble County police were dealing with a hostage crisis on Christmas Eve.  Ligonier Officers were sent to a home on East Union St., just off of SR-5 just before 7 PM to check out a reported battery complaint.  When they got there, officers were told that a woman was hit several times by her boyfriend, 50-year-old Michael  Strammer, then dragged inside the home.  Police tried to contact the two, with no success.  A crisis negotiator was brought in and contacted Strammer by telephone.  After several minutes, the woman was released.  The suspect later came out and was taken into custody without further incident.