SOUTH BEND — The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s office charged the father of former South Bend Common Council member Henry Davis Jr. on Saturday, June 20, with one count of intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor, following an incident after a boys basketball scrimmage Tuesday, June 16, at Riley High School.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the South Bend Police Department received a complaint June 17 that Henry Davis Sr. allegedly intimidated Riley basketball coach Alex Daniel with a gun post-game June 16 about his grandson’s playing time.
According to the affidavit, Davis Sr. approached Daniel after the game, and when he was informed that the South Bend Community School Corp. bars family members from speaking with coaching staff for one day after a game has passed, the affidavit said that Davis Sr. yelled, “I’m a[n] adult, and you need to answer my [expletive] question.”
According to the affidavit, Daniel asked Davis Sr. to leave.
Davis Sr. allegedly lifted his shirt during the conversation, allegedly exposing a handgun. According to the affidavit, surveillance cameras showed Davis Sr. taking what looked like a gun out of his waistband and moving it to his back pocket as he left the gymnasium.
According to the affidavit, officers located and interviewed Davis Sr., who, police said, “acknowledged” he confronted Daniel but denied owning any handguns. He told officers that he owns two handgun-style pellet guns, the affidavit said. Officers recovered both pellet guns.
Davis Sr. denied bringing a pellet gun to the game, the affidavit said. As officers placed Davis Sr. under arrest, according to the affidavit, he said, the “black BB gun doesn’t even fire.”
Black Lives Matter South Bend put out a press release Thursday, June 18, in response to Davis Sr.’s arrest that said the Davis family and BLMSB “believe these events must be viewed within the context of a long history of political opposition, retaliation and attacks directed at members of the Davis family because of their outspoken advocacy and public service.”
BLM is calling for any video footage of the alleged confrontation captured by the SBCSC to be preserved and released.
“Henry Davis, Sr. is a respected elder, businessman, father, grandfather, loving husband, and longtime advocate for his family and community,” his son and former council member Henry Davis Jr. said in the press release. “He has dedicated decades to serving others, and we believe the truth will be found in the evidence. We are calling for the immediate preservation and release of all available security footage.”
According to the affidavit, Davis Sr. qualifies for criminal rule 26, which in Indiana, allows someone who is arrested to be released without paying bond under the assumption that they do not pose a significant threat to themselves or the community.
Email Tribune staff writer Juliane Balog at jbalog@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Past South Bend council member’s father charged with intimidation
Reporting by Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
