John Jefferson
Inset: Claude Davis Sr. (Delaware County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The home where Davis allegedly battered his intellectually disabled son (Google Maps).
A 47-year-old man in Indiana has been arrested after he allegedly beat his intellectually disabled son because the 20-year-old couldn’t find his glasses, then told police, “what happens in my house, stays in my house.” Claude Davis Sr. was taken into custody on Friday and charged with one felony count of battery against a person with a mental or physical handicap, court documents show.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, officers with the Muncie Police Department at about 8:33 a.m. on Jan., 31, responded to the Muncie Career Center at 4301 S. Cowan Road in reference to a battery that took place earlier in the morning at a residence in the 1300 block of E. Willard Street. The home is about 55 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
An adviser at the career center told the officer that a 20-year-old named Claude Davis Jr. told staff at the school that his father “slapped him in the head four times” that morning “because he was mad that Claude Jr. couldn’t find his glasses.”
The adviser provided police with paperwork documenting that the alleged victim had been diagnosed with a moderate intellectual disability and was unable to read or write.
“Claude Jr. said that his father became very angry and upset. He said he was yelling at him and punched a hole in the wall of the house ‘next to the kitchen door.’ Claude Jr. said his dad slapped him with an open hand in the face two times on each side of his head,” the affidavit states. “I asked Claude what happened next and he said his dad took him to school. Claude Jr. said his dad was still angry at him on the way to school and put his hands on him again. He said he grabbed him by the back of the head and pulled him towards him. I did not observe any injuries on Claude Jr. but his face had a natural red tint to it.”
The victim told police that his head still hurt from being slapped.
Police went to Davis’ home at about 10:15 a.m. that morning and “knocked loudly,” but no one came to the door. The officers knew Davis was supposed to be picking up his son soon so they parked down the block and waited for him to leave then conducted a traffic stop.
When questioned about the incident that morning, Davis told police he took his son’s phone and keys because Claude Jr. had lost his glasses. When asked if he’d punched a hole in the wall, Davis reportedly responded by saying, “I don’t hit my kids” before confirming that he did punch the wall, according to the affidavit.
“He said he has a temper problem and he got very angry,” the affidavit states
Asked about hitting his son at home or in the car, Davis continued to deny physically harming his son and had no explanation as to why the victim would tell people at the school about the alleged incident, other than saying that he and the victim “get into it a lot.”
Police then ordered Davis out of the car and placed him under arrest.
While en route to the Delaware County Jail, Davis allegedly “made several unprompted excited utterances,” including one in which he said, “I’ve told him many times that what happens in
my house, stays in my house.”
Davis was released after posting bond of $5,000. It was not immediately clear when he was scheduled to appear in court for his initial hearing.
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