INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man has been charged with nine different felonies after police say he took a woman hostage and used her as a human shield.
According to recently-released court documents, on Oct. 29, IMPD officers responded to the 900 block of Chapelwood Boulevard, near 10th Street and North Girls School Road on the west side of Indianapolis, on a report of a man entering a residence and assaulting a woman with a knife.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found 41-year-old Demerr Lee "manipulating" the rear patio door. Lee was then seen grabbing a woman and placing one arm around her neck and the other around her body. At that point, court documents say two responding officers drew their service weapons and pointed them at Lee while giving loud verbal commands to show police his hands.
Seeing the woman was in imminent danger, court documents say police then used a tool to break the glass panes of the rear patio door to enter the house. After officers were inside, court documents say that Lee laid down on a nearby couch, pulled the woman on top of himself and used her as an apparent human shield.
After giving Lee more loud, verbal commands to let the woman go, Lee eventually did so but refused to cooperate with police. Court documents say Lee was given verbal commands to get on the ground, but instead, Lee sat back on the couch and folded his arms across his chest without any acknowledgement to the officers.
At that point, court documents say police used a Taser on Lee, which eventually allowed officers to place him under arrest. After placing Lee upright, he allegedly became belligerent, screaming for the officers to shoot him. Police were eventually able to restrain him in ankle shackles, but not before Lee allegedly kicked one of the officers in the foot.
After removing Lee from the property, police spoke with the woman for more information. Court documents say the woman told police she was sitting on the couch on her back patio when Lee suddenly entered the house through an open, unlocked door.
The woman told police Lee immediately placed both hands around her neck in an attempt to strangle her. A 16-year-old and a 6-year-old were also in the house at the time and reportedly fled to call 911.
Court documents say the woman told police she didn't remember how she got away from Lee, but when she did, he went into the kitchen to grab a kitchen knife and threatened to kill her. Lee allegedly used the knife to cut into the woman's chest. The woman eventually was able to grab another kitchen knife as Lee continued to chase and threaten her.
In a follow-up interview the next day, the woman reiterated what she had told police the night of the attack, but added that she had received a call from Lee that day telling her that he was coming for her.
According to online court records, Lee has been charged with nine felonies, including charges of battery by means of a deadly weapon, intimidation by use of a deadly weapon, strangulation, battery committed in the presence of a child and battery against a public safety official. Lee also faces three misdemeanor charges of invasion of privacy and interference with the reporting of a crime.
Lee's initial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1 at 9 a.m. while his jury trial is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 27, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.
