Man accused of battering victim, officers

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A man was arrested after he allegedly battered another man and officers who were trying to arrest him, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Deshannon Grady, Sr., 40, was arrested on the following charges:

• One count of battery with bodily injury to a public safety officer
• One count of battery resulting in bodily injury
• One count of strangulation
• One count of resisting law enforcement
• One count of battery

Officers with the South Bend Police Department were called to an apartment complex in the 500 block of Monroe St. Sunday for a caller who said he had been battered and choked by a man.

The victim described the man as wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and red shoes.

When police arrived, they found a man matching the suspect's description standing on a sidewalk outside of the apartment building.

The man was with a female who walked away during the encounter with police.

According to police, the man, later identified as Grady, repeatedly approached officers in an aggressive manner, balling up his fists and appearing upset. 

He told police he had gone to jail two weeks ago "unjustly," according to reports.

Despite officers' attempts to deescalate the situation, Grady continued toward police in an aggressive manner, reports said.

When one of the officers tried to detain Grady, Grady allegedly broke free and pushed the officer.

As the same officer held his left arm, Grady used his right arm to punch the officer in the mouth, causing his lips to split open and bleed, according to police.

Grady also stuck his fingers into the officer's mouth and cut the inside of it with his fingernails, reports said.

When the officer stumbled, Grady fell into a shallow window well.

As police tried to detain him, Grady swung at the officers until one deployed his Taser, according to reports.

Grady was taken into custody.

The victim of the incident told police he recently began hanging out with a man and female but that he only knew the female's name.

The female stayed at the victim's apartment the night before the incident and Grady arrived at the apartment around noon the next day.

At some point when they were hanging out, Grady allegedly flashed the female.

The victim told the two to leave but instead, Grady allegedly yelled at the victim and threw him to the ground.

Grady then got on top of the victim and began choking him with both hands, reports said.

The action allegedly caused the victim to pass out.

Police observed a slightly swollen reddish mark on the side of the victim's neck, reports said. 

The victim said he was unable to fight back because of how large Grady was and at one point, Grady allegedly slapped the victim twice in the face with an open hand.

He said both Grady and the female experience homelessness. 

Officers showed Grady to the victim and he positively identified him as the man who attacked him, reports said. 

Grady is being held on a $35,000 cash bond. 

He is due in court for his initial hearing on April 27.