Where's Where's Devon at? >> Downstairs. >> He's downstairs? >> basement. >> Does he have any weapons or anything? >> I told you I did >> And this is Devon towards Rex? >> Towards Rex and then he was like bam and punched him right in the mouth. >> How many times do you think Devon punched Rex? >> He punched him a good four times and then I tried to get in the middle and I was like no no no stop and he was still punching him over my arm. >> Some homicidal thoughts towards Rex. >> exactly. >> On June 23rd, 2025, Illinois officers responded to a home where a son beat his stepfather over a rent dispute that had been building for months. Devon threw at least four punches, pushed Rex into a freezer [music] and the second 911 call came not from a person but from Rex's smart watch fall detector. The real issue here is not whether Devon broke the law. He admitted it on camera. The issue is what the system was obligated to do next. >> I'm going to go down there and talk to him, okay? What what I'll have you do is you stay here with her, okay? >> All right. >> All right. >> He punched you in the mouth, too? >> We got to go to the basement. >> My son decided he didn't like us >> How old is your son? >> being his He was supposed to have an agreement that he was going to pay 250 a month to stay here. He said that was just for 1 month. >> All right. >> I said that's not how this world works. >> Rex hit you? >> Yeah, he hit you? Yes. >> And he fell, right? >> He hit me right here right here right here. >> At least >> up against the >> on your hand? What is that? >> Yes, that's from me and fall and blood. >> Yeah. >> Okay, I didn't I couldn't see if it was blood or not. >> And then threw me up against the uh >> What's his name? >> Devon. >> Yeah, Devon, sorry. >> They've had contact before. >> Where I go into this door, how do I get to the basement? >> downstairs. And he threw me into >> no weapons down there? >> We have We don't keep weapons in >> Can you tell me what happened to >> your perspective? >> I think I went We just came Today's my birthday. >> Happy birthday. I'm sorry that it's like this, but still >> Right. We came in from eating, and my husband said, "Did you make mozzarella sticks?" I said, "No." I said, "Trinity would know better >> He's our daughter. >> would know better than to try to make mozzarella sticks without an adult asking. I Then he was like, "Maybe Davon." And then I saw the container. Like, it's on the stove. You can see It's still sitting there. >> Like, but he made the I was like, "Davon, did you make the whole packet of mozzarella sticks?" >> Mhm. >> And he was like, "No." I was like, "Well, the box is on the on the stove." >> Yeah. >> And he said, "Well, it's in the freezer." And I said, "Okay." So, when I walked over there, I smelled urine. >> Okay. >> I said >> When you say over there, by the sink? >> No. Yeah, over by the stove. >> Okay. By stove. >> in the kitchen, and I said, "Why does this kitchen smell like urine?" >> Mhm. >> And then he was like, "Well, do you clean the bathroom? Maybe it's a bathroom." His room is right under the kitchen. >> Mhm. >> And the vent is right there. I said, "Well, I'm standing over the vent, and I smell urine." >> Mhm. >> And then he started So, as he was talking, I walked down. I said, um "Now, what were you saying?" And then he said, "I was saying, do you uh clean the bathroom?" I said, "I use the bathroom upstairs." And then he started getting up. I said, "Watch your tone." >> Mhm. >> And then he was like, "No. No. Do you clean the bathroom?" I said, "I use the bathroom." "Well, somebody's been using the bathroom." I was like, "Again, Davon, watch your tone." >> Mhm. >> And then I said, "You know what? You told Rex that you were a tenant. I told you last week either get a job >> Mhm. >> or get Link to help provide for the house. >> No. I I I am sorry to interrupt. >> I know cuz I'm going through the whole story. >> What I want What I want to ask you real quick that could you do me a favor? >> Yeah. >> Can I have you just describe what happened physically and I will have Officer Tucker get the statement of the scene leading before >> I was giving you the back story. I can go over there and meet you. Because >> And I can absolutely agree. >> And my husband heard me us going back and forth. >> Okay. >> So, he came down and he said um you're not a tenant and then my husband was standing at the door. Devon stood up and he was like showing me on his phone, "These are my savings. These are what I got." I was I was like "That on the phone don't help contribute to the household >> Yeah. >> cuz we're not seeing any of that. You saying you got savings or whatever. So, my husband was like, "Well, where's the money at? You had agreement with your mom $250." He was like, "Yeah." Um >> You >> I'm walking up towards you but I'm not >> You okay? >> I I told you >> And this is Devon towards >> towards Rex. And then he was like, "Bam!" and punched him right in the mouth. >> How many times do you think Devon punched Rex? >> He punched him a good four times and then I tried to get in the middle and I was like, "No, no, no, stop." And he was still punching him over my arm. And then I was like, "I'm calling the police. I'm calling the police." And then he was like, "Call the police. Call the police." And as soon as I went upstairs, he started again. >> Now, Angela I've two quick questions for you before I get out of here but Officer Tucker's going to remain here, okay? One, would you be able to find at that at the end of Officer Tucker speaking with you a few photograph the basement where this occurred? >> Yes. >> Do you have a phone on you? Okay. >> Yes. >> Second, how is Devon been doing recently? I know I've talked to him in the past where he's had some mentally health mental health issues. Has he been taking his prescribed medications or anything? >> not. He's been a hermit. And as soon as he hear us stirring, he leaves. >> Hold. >> How long ago did he stop taking them? >> I don't know. I don't think he's ever been on since that last altercation. >> What is his official diagnosis? >> I don't know. >> Okay. That's okay. >> He said he he went to the hospital cuz he thought he was sick and now he's diabetic. >> Okay. >> But he he's not >> just couldn't remember from last time cuz I know we talked to him last time where he was having some homicidal thoughts towards Rex. >> exactly. >> I know that was a good month and a half 2 months ago give or take a little bit. So, I just wanted to check. >> just been avoiding avoiding all of us. Like when he hears us up he leaves. >> I'll tell you what, Angela. I'm going to take him to the police department so that way he's not just sitting here alone. Officer Tucker is going to stay here to do I got it. >> 10-4. >> Just redo your thing. >> Redo >> Your your your um >> Body cam? >> Body cam. You can get my whole statement. >> 100%. He he has some paperwork to go over with you though just because you are witness as well and then he he has to do some of it with Rex as well. >> Right. >> So, he does have some but I have your statement in terms of what happened and what you witnessed. >> Right. >> He just might have to have you write a few few things down, okay? So, you need anything from me? >> No, I'm just going to go >> I'm going to get him I'm going to get him to the PD, okay? >> the pictures too. >> Hey, Devon. >> Yeah. >> Hey, it's Sergeant Evans. May I come here and come down and talk to you? >> No, I'm going to go out there and talk to you. >> Okay. Can we >> You got to see me every single >> Devon, please please come please talk over here though just cuz I want to do it separately from my mom and stepdad, okay? >> guys see me every single day outside walking day and night with garbage. The first thing that he actually starts doing is bringing up money. And that's the worst thing you want to do to a person who's literally trying to do stuff. Yeah. What? You know, granted majority of my money that I'm spending is my own savings. Yeah. It's not even his savings or any of his stuff that he's even provided to me. It's just I buy myself my my own stuff. >> Devon, can I ask what happened today when he was bringing up money? >> Oh, yeah. I ended up like he kept getting closer to me. So, obviously I had to I had to push him back and I threw a couple punches at him. >> Okay. >> So, yes I did do I did >> you mind if I check your hands? I want to make sure you didn't >> When Sergeant Davis approaches Devon in the basement, Devon talks freely and eventually says he threw punches. No Miranda warning had been given at that point. Under Miranda versus Arizona, a person must be advised of their rights before custodial interrogation. Devon was in a basement with armed officers and no way out. Courts apply a totality of circumstances test. A conversational tone does not automatically make an encounter non-custodial. And that distinction matters here. Still, a prosecutor would argue no formal arrest had occurred yet. And Devon volunteered the information without being directly questioned. That counterargument has merit, but a defense attorney will file a suppression motion and Devon's admission could disappear from trial before it even starts. >> Does this hurt at all cuz you have a couple cuts right here? >> No. >> On your pinky here. >> No. >> It doesn't hurt? Can you make fists? It doesn't hurt at all to make fists? Can you do that for me? Does that hurt? >> I >> I I want to make sure you're okay. >> I know, but >> Yeah, I was like I want to make sure you're okay, man. >> It's it's the distance. >> you You remember me? >> I I did that. >> times. >> That's That's how I was like, yeah I remember you. So, I was like >> I was like deep breath, man. I just want to make sure you're okay. The hand doesn't hurt to do this or anything? >> It's just the >> No? Now, I know you said you threw a couple punches at him. Did he Did he punch you at all? >> No. >> No? Are you hurt at all? >> No. I mean, no. >> Okay. >> Just more of the simple fact of like even though I come I visit sometimes I'll even go out and go do other things, take strain, whatever, come back, so on and so forth. And stuff like that. Not once have I been acknowledged for anything. >> For these things you're doing? >> Yeah, even even if I go bring, you know, even if let's say he goes takes out his garbage or anything like that. And I go and I'm walking past or something like that doing my cardio, you know, try to do a thousand other things. I'm only one body with one brain, so I can't do everything. >> I get that. >> So so I'm bringing that in. Don't get acknowledged for it. >> Mhm. >> Whatever I see that the sink is full of dishes, I do those dishes. >> That's very nice of you. >> get acknowledged for it. >> I'm sorry they're not acknowledged. >> I know. >> Devon, can I ask you a question? >> It's not even it's not even that. It's just the simple fact >> After he he was coming towards you and you had to push him back and punch him. How did How did it end? Did he walk away? Did you walk away? Did no Did mom come down and separate you? How did it end? >> My mom was already down there. She already separated us. >> Okay. >> But like when she came up started talking on the phone, I literally I can reenact it. He >> He he had to hit me, right? >> Yeah. >> Right. >> [laughter] >> After all that stuff >> Okay. >> I was like so so are you you know, how are you feeling this that and the other blah blah blah stuff I talked to him this that and the other. >> Yeah. >> You know, and then he kind of just nonchalantly just started looking at his watch you know, like blah blah blah blah. >> Okay. >> You know, all of this going off because blah blah blah blah. But I'm sitting there trying to sit there and say well granted you I'm trying to explain to him and try to talk to him so he can actually hear or whatever. >> Of course. >> I don't I like I don't know his his understanding of senses. Like he he could he could be deaf or something like that or he could be thinking of stuff in his own head. >> Devon, have you That's stepdad, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Have you and stepdad ever gotten into it like this before? I know I know I've talked to you before when when it's been verbal between you guys. What about physical in the past? >> I mean we have like when I was at Rock Falls like I said. >> Okay. >> This was also when I was at Rock Falls working. >> ago? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> A while >> How things been since I've been here? I know it's been It's been a couple months cuz you remember you talked to me at the PD, you walked down. >> Yeah. >> How have things been since then? I know they were a little bit heated at that point. Have they been okay before today? >> I mean Like I said, we don't talk. >> [laughter] >> So you know what I'm saying? We don't We don't We don't exchange anything. We don't talk or anything. >> and that's okay. >> It felt like I was just being a ghost there anyway, so >> No, Devon, I I know you said the hand's okay. Do you need any medical attention or are you hurt at all? >> No, it's just >> No? >> No. I I did wrestling and I did boxing so my pain tolerance right now is just >> Okay. I get I don't want you to be in any pain though. I know you can tolerate it, but I don't want you to be in it. >> Plus also I did like taser training and [ __ ] like that since I >> but I don't want you to be in pain. Like I know it I know you got a high threshold for it, but pain's still pain. Like I know you're tougher than it, but I don't want you to be in any. >> [laughter] >> Hey, I get you. If you say you're good, I'm going to take your word on it. >> There there's >> No. >> Not sleep. Freaking wrestling >> I've always been straightforward and honest with you, okay? Because you punched him, I do have to place you under arrest for that, okay? >> I understand that. >> Now, you've always been cool with me. Are you Would you be okay if I handcuff you up front, not behind your back? Cuz I don't want to I don't want to I don't want to do it behind your back and if you don't want to. If you're okay with it, I will. >> But what's what's the whole rule Like what was the whole rule behind like behind the back or for? >> Typically behind the back we do cuz if we need to take control of someone more. You've always been nothing but cool and respectful for me, so I'm not worried about like hey, if I cuff you up front, you're going to punch me or something. Like I I know you're not going to do that cuz you've always been cool with me every time I talked to you. Would you be okay if I cuff you up front then? Say that's It's a little bit more respectful respectful and it won't hurt at all, okay? No, Devon, is this one too tight? Does that hurt at all? And don't do the high pain threshold, okay? Just tell me if it's too tight and it hurts and I'll loosen it. >> Yeah, you're good. Is that too tight? >> All right, you're good. >> No, let me double lock them cuz otherwise if you hit them, they'll get a little tighter and pinch you and I don't want that to happen, man. >> Shoot, I didn't even get to brush my teeth today, dude. >> [cough] [clears throat] >> I feel I feel so >> Devon, you're okay. Can I ask is do you have a cell phone or wallet or anything in the in the house that you need? >> Uh no, I got everything. >> Okay, Devon, how about we walk around this side? I just don't I just don't want anything to happen in terms of an argument with stepdad. >> This is his phone. >> That's stepdad, Rexis? Do you have your phone? >> I got my phone. >> You do? Okay. Devon, we we just got to walk over here to my squad car, okay? >> All right. >> No, you sure you're okay? Nothing hurts right now? >> Yeah, I'm good. >> Like I said >> I'm just I'm just I have a high uh messed up because of the last little war going on and and arrows and >> I can I can imagine what you're saying. >> Canadias talking sh >> Do you guys mind going over there, Tase? >> Oh, yeah, yeah. Canadias talking like some mad stuff right now and I'm really getting pissed off. >> Hey, I completely get that, man. >> But I feel like >> Devon, we are going to go right over here to my squad car, okay? Where Where's this just on this side, okay? So, Devon, I know you have your phone on you. Do you have anything else in your pockets? Just cuz you're getting in a squad car, I do have to check. Is there anything else in your pockets? >> Yeah, I got some stuff. >> Got it? >> All right. >> Is there Is there anything other than this that you need from inside the house? >> Um no, I should be good. >> mind if I check the pockets real quick? I just want to make sure nothing else is in there, okay? All right, let me unlock it for you real quick. >> Okay. Nothing in that comes out in >> Go ahead and hop in here. >> there. >> If you could, you go ahead and go ahead and throw your seatbelt on for me. >> Get music also coming up this Thursday. My buddy Zane will be broadcasting >> Got it. All right, give me just a second then we'll get out of here, okay? All right, thank you. All right, so has he ever hit or slapped you prior today or just today? >> Um No, he once I was This is probably This is during the winter, February-ish. I was up here doing doing dishes. And he just came up out of nowhere and he just said he started arguing with me and I said He said, "We need to fight right now." So, he went downstairs and got the boxing gloves. I said, "Well, hey, if I'm going to fight, I'm not going to take 10 minutes to go get boxing gloves." >> Right. Right. >> And I just I just went back to doing doing dishes and then he He I He was He was like this, like a couple inches away. He didn't push me that time. This is the first time he's really >> Okay. >> Cuz even the other time when he went down to the police station, he didn't really uh >> Okay. So, has he ever kicked you? >> No. >> No. Choked you? >> He Tonight. >> Tonight? >> Yeah, tonight he did. Yeah. >> Prevented you Has he ever prevented you from seeking help? I mean, your wife is here. >> I mean, I would My wife stepped in between us. >> Threatened you with a weapon? >> No. Well, yeah. >> Yeah? >> Yeah, with the with the sniper. That would be with a weapon. >> All right. We'll We'll put that case with it. >> Okay. >> Threatened to harm the police if they were called? >> Uh no. >> Um threatened to kill you other than that sniper thing? >> No. >> Threatened to harm himself? >> Nothing I'm aware of now. >> Harm or threaten any pets? >> No, we don't have any. >> Do you know if he fantasizes about harming or killing someone? >> Nothing I'm aware of. He I mean, he He goes down to the And I don't know what he gets. He goes down to the It's the marathon. If you go down underneath right after the left. He goes down there a lot. And after he goes down there he goes he goes crazy. So I don't know what if he's just getting alcohol down there or he's getting something else down there. And then he'll be down on the phone and he'll be screaming. Straight ahead? Yep. All right. Yeah, that looks like probably a couple of We're going to finish him, buddy. >> Illinois compiled statutes 725 12-3.2 defines domestic battery as knowingly causing bodily harm to a family or household member. Rex had blood on his hand visible on camera. Angela witnessed the assault. Probable cause existed before Devons had a single word. The arrest was legally solid. But there is a second statute that raises harder questions about what came next. Illinois compiled statutes 405-5-3-600 authorizes law enforcement to transport a person to a mental health facility when that person appears mentally ill, imposes a danger to others. Devon's mother had already disclosed prior homicidal ideation toward Rex known to Sergeant Davis before he ever went downstairs. That said, the statute uses the word may not shall. Officers retain discretion. Devon was cooperative. The PD allows for further screening. But Devon himself said in the patrol car that the mental health system is too complex and too slow while en route to a holding area not a clinic. On the front handcuffing standard protocol is hands behind the back. Under Graham versus Connor force decisions are judged from the reasonable officers perspective. Sergeant Davis knew Devon's history. Devon had always been cooperative. The call proved correct, but a non-standard restraint still creates liability exposure. Rex also disclosed during the lethality screening that Devon previously threatened him with what Rex described as a sniper rifle. Logged as a separate prior case, a prior weapon threat is a documented aggravating factor under Illinois law. Relevant to both charging decisions and detention risk assessments going forward. Sergeant Davis handled this call better than most would. He de-escalated a potentially explosive encounter without raising his voice once. The failure to Mirandize Devon before taking a potentially incriminating statement is a procedural gap that could cost the prosecution its cleanest piece of evidence. The transport to PD decision over a crisis center is a judgment call, but it is exactly the kind of call that courts and mental health advocates will examine. Devon admitted to the assault and did not resist arrest in any way. He was also off medication, isolated, and had recent homicidal ideation toward the victim. Angela intervened to stop the assault and gave officers critical mental health background that directly shaped how this encounter was handled. Rex cooperated fully. First lesson, being questioned in your own home does not mean you are not in custody. If officers are present and you cannot leave, Miranda protections may already apply. The test is whether a reasonable person in that position would feel free to walk away. In a confined space with an active investigation, the answer is almost always no. Do not speak to investigators without counsel. Even if the conversation feels casual, what feels like a chat can become the centerpiece of a criminal prosecution. Second lesson, when a household member has known psychiatric history, prior threats of violence, and has stopped taking medication, that is a recognized risk pattern. Illinois Compiled Statutes 405-5-3-600 exist to allow intervention before the next incident, not only after violence has already occurred. Third lesson, front handcuffing a subject with a known weapon threat history is a deviation from protocol that exposes the officer and the department. When something goes wrong after a non-standard restraint decision, the question shifts from what happened to why policy was not followed. The outcome of this case is unknown at the time of this analysis. No charging documents or court records were located through public records searches. Let us know if there is an interaction or a legal topic you want analyzed in the comments.