Crime & Courts

DeKalb man charged with beating two women in home invasion

Bond set at $150,000 for DeKalb man charged with beating two women, breaking into apartment

DeKALB - A DeKalb man is facing charges after police say he broke into an apartment on Aspen Court and beat two women, breaking their phones and taking a bathroom door off its hinges.

Dakari D. Williams, 24, of the 500 block of Normal Road in DeKalb, is charged with home invasion, felony domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, criminal damage to property and battery. If convicted of the most serious crime, home invasion, a Class X felony, Williams could face up to 30 years in jail and fines up to $25,000.

According to DeKalb County court records, Williams was arrested on Saturday, July 28 in relation to an incident which allegedly occurred on March 15. He was charged on May 17, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, records show.

DeKalb police were called to an apartment in the 1000 block of Aspen Court around 1:45 a.m. that morning for reports of a home invasion. When officers arrived, they spoke with two women, both alleged victims, who told them that Williams had forced himself into the apartment and attacked them.

The women told police they’d been alerted to Williams’ presence when he started banging on the door of the apartment, and then forced the door open, reports allege. After he entered the apartment, Williams allegedly began beating one woman, punching her in the head and using his hand to press on her neck, though the woman told police she did not lost consciousness or the ability to breathe.

The 24-year-old also allegedly beat the second woman, attempting to strike her in the head though she held up her arms, according to reports. He grabbed the second woman by the neck with one hand, reports allege.

The women told police Williams also allegedly threw items around the apartment and unplugged internal security cameras which one of them had installed. He then walked out of the apartment, and one of the women went into the bathroom and closed the door.

Williams then allegedly returned to the apartment and took the bathroom door off its hinges, which fell on the woman. He also broke both women’s phones, reports allege, and told one of the women that “police couldn’t help her,” reports state. The women told police the man paced through the apartment and yelled.

One of the women told police she then ran into the hallway and was let inside a neighboring apartment by a resident and witness, after which Williams began to bang on that apartment’s door but eventually left through the south door of the complex, witnesses told police.

Williams appeared for a virtual bond hearing from the DeKalb County Jail this week in front of Dekalb County Associate Judge Joseph Pedersen, who set his bond at $150,000. Williams would need to post 10% of that, or $15,000 to get out of jail. He is next set to appear Aug. 19 at 9:45 a.m. for a status hearing.

Kelsey Rettke

Kelsey Rettke

Kelsey Rettke is the editor of the Daily Chronicle, part of Shaw Media and DeKalb County's only daily newspaper devoted to local news, crime and courts, government, business, sports and community coverage. Kelsey also covers breaking news for Shaw Media Local News Network.