Beats Me

Teens Arrested for Beating Homeless Man

By EVA KIS
The Ledger
LAKELAND — Four Lakeland teenagers, none of them older than 15, attacked a homeless man downtown early Saturday morning, according to police.

Dexter L. Davis, 15, of 818 Gary Road, Davin B. Truedell, 13, of 2429 W. Highland St., Etoy L. Love, 14, of 605 Jamestown Ave., and Wesley C. Delancy, 15, of 1907 E. Fern Road, are all charged with strong-arm robbery and aggravated assault, both second-degree felonies. Truedell also was charged with resisting arrest.

According to Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen, the gruesome attack on Curtis Johnson — who told police he’s been targeted before — is just the latest in a problem known to be getting worse for months. According to police reports on the incident, there have been numerous attacks and robberies in this area of city targeting the homeless.

At 840 E. Memorial Blvd. about 12:30 a.m., the boys approached Johnson, who was sleeping in the back of the Rent-A-Wheel auto shop, and began punching and yelling at him, and demanding that he get up, according to their arrest reports.

Once Johnson did get to his feet, he ran from the teens, who then threw rocks and beer bottles at him. One of the bottles hit Johnson on the right elbow so hard that it became dislocated and sustained a deep gash.

While the others accosted Johnson, one of the boys rummaged through Johnson’s backpack, which Johnson later said contained nothing of significant value.

The attack stopped only when a Lakeland police officer interrupted and the boys began to run. Three of them obeyed police officers who gave chase and told them to stop and lie down on the ground — Truedell continued to run but was chased down.

The teens were arrested. However, it is unknown whether they were taken to a juvenile facility or the Polk County Jail.

Lakeland police officials could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Johnson was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment. Hospital staff declined to release information about his condition Saturday night, citing patient privacy laws.

Employees of the Steak ‘n Shake restaurant across the street from where the attack took place knew of two other incidents of homeless people being beaten.

“They (beatings) happen all the time around here,” one said.