Darius Terell Dukes, 32, of Gary, has been charged in Lake County following a domestic disturbance reported Friday morning.  

According to court documents, Gary police were dispatched at approximately 8:24 a.m. on July 3 to the 900 block of North County Line Road after receiving two 911 calls reporting a disturbance involving a man, a woman and several young children. The first caller reported seeing a man yelling at a woman and several children and grabbing the woman. A second caller, identified in court records as the children’s mother, reported the father of her children was causing problems at her residence, appeared intoxicated and had taken her phones.  

Court records state officers located Dukes a short time later walking back toward the apartment building. Officers reported he appeared intoxicated, with slurred speech and unsteady balance, and he was taken into custody. During a search, officers allegedly recovered two cell phones and a wallet containing several orange and green tablets that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine.  

According to court documents, the children’s mother told police Dukes became argumentative, grabbed their 5-year-old daughter, and told her to go with him because she was “Dukes.” When the child refused, he allegedly struck her. She further alleged Dukes then tried to get their 6-year-old son to leave with him, and when he refused, he also struck him. Court records further allege Dukes then told their 2-year-old daughter, “shut up right now or I will kill you.”  

Court documents further allege that when the children’s mother attempted to call 911 (tel:911), Dukes took her two iPhones, valued at approximately $1,200, preventing her from reporting the incident before leaving on foot.  

Lodged in the Lake County Jail.

Charges filed July 4, 2026:

Domestic Battery on a Person Less than 14 Years Old (Level 6 Felony) (2 counts)

Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony) 

Theft (Level 6 Felony) 

Interference with Reporting of a Crime (Class A Misdemeanor)