Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Devon Lashaun Dukes, 24, was taken into custody yesterday and faces charges of battery and causing property damage. These charges stem from an incident where he reportedly attacked another patient at Meridian and caused significant damage to a water fountain, resulting in $15,000 worth of flooding damage to the facility. Additionally, Dukes has sworn complaints against him for alleged attacks on different patients at Meridian that occurred on June 3 and June 9.

Around 12:26 p.m. on June 30, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived at Meridian Behavioral Healthcare located at 1541 SW Williston Road. According to the victim, Dukes entered his room and struck him in the face with a piece of tile. The deputy noted that the victim had a lip cut that needed ten stitches in total—four on the outside and six on the inside.

Dukes is also accused of removing several items from the walls and ceiling at Meridian, including surveillance cameras, a water fountain, and tiles. The damage to these fixtures led to flooding, which caused considerable damage to the flooring of the facility, with estimated repair costs of $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.