Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Devon Lashaun Dukes, 24, was arrested yesterday and charged with battery and property damage after allegedly attacking another patient at Meridian and damaging a water fountain, leading to flooding and $15,000 in damage to the facility; Dukes is also facing sworn complaints for attacks on different patients at Meridian on June 3 and June 9.

At about 12:26 p.m. on June 30, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to Meridian Behavioral Healthcare (1541 SW Williston Road), where the victim reportedly said Dukes came into his room and hit him in the face with a piece of tile. The deputy reported that the victim had a cut on his lip that required four stitches on the outside and six stitches on the inside.

Dukes also allegedly removed various fixtures from the walls and ceiling at Meridian, including surveillance cameras, a water fountain, and tiles. The area flooded after the fixtures were damaged, resulting in damage to the flooring. The damage was estimated at $15,000.

Post Miranda, Dukes reportedly said nothing had happened that morning.

Dukes has been charged with felony battery and property damage over $1,000.

He is also facing two sworn complaints from separate attacks. On June 3, he allegedly hit another patient while the victim was sleeping in the common area, causing swelling to the victim’s face and lip. Security camera video reportedly showed the victim sleeping in a chair in the common room when Dukes walked up and punched him in the face for no apparent reason. On June 9, Dukes allegedly put a towel around the throat of a third patient and dragged him to the ground before biting him on the head; his actions appeared to have been unprovoked. The victim reportedly had a clear bite on his head that was actively bleeding. Staff members reportedly witnessed the incident, and it was shown on surveillance video.

Dukes has juvenile convictions between 2012 and 2018; he has no adult convictions, but two battery cases and seven trespassing cases have been dropped since 2022. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $200,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.