MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A local man was arrested after allegedly attacking a 6-year-old boy who was riding his bike down the street.
The child stated he was riding his bike in the area of Field Lark and Sky Lark in the Boxtown area, when a man stopped him, pulled his shorts open and touched him inappropriately.
Two neighbors sitting in a nearby driveway saw what happened and went to help.
When they asked the child about it, he told them the man had inappropriately grabbed him.
The suspect was identified by police as Darion Newell, 32. He was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery.
Newell’s family says he has mental health issues. They say he’s been in and out of facilities for years.
“He’s bipolar, schizophrenic,” said his brother, Samuel Bobo.
His mother, Sherian Gray, wiping away tears, acknowledges he needs to be more consistent when it comes to taking his medication, but also believes he’s not getting the real treatment needed.
“I don’t feel like they’re really helping him the way they should. I can only do so much. My hands are tied, and he gets violent sometimes. But he’ll still tell you after it happened, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do it.’ He’ll be talking to five or six different people, and he’ll be fighting them,” she said.
Bobo says it’s tough to think his brother would really do what he’s accused of.
“He’s never done this before. This is not like him. He’s around his nieces, his around his little cousins and stuff like that. This is something very shocking,” Bobo said. “It he did do it, this type of person shouldn’t be allowed to be hallucinating around people.”
Newell’s family wants him somewhere where he can get his life back on track.
“I can’t do nothing but pray for him, hope this pans out and hope the system starts working.”
His bond has been set at $75,000.
