Gary Man Charged After Domestic Incident Leaves Child And Two Women Injured
Denzel Isiah Riley, 33, of Gary, is facing multiple felony charges after authorities allege he assaulted two women and injured a child during a domestic disturbance earlier this week in Gary.
According to court documents, Gary Police were dispatched around 8:10 p.m. on March 4, 2026, to a residence in the 8000 block of Hemlock Avenue for a reported domestic disturbance.
A Probable Cause Affidavit states a woman told police she, her mother, and her two daughters had just returned home from attending a game in Michigan City when they discovered they could not enter the residence because the front door lock had been damaged. She contacted Riley, identified as the father of the children, and asked him to return home to let them inside.
When Riley arrived, he opened the garage door so the family could enter the residence. Court documents state Riley grabbed one of the children and attempted to remove her shoes, causing the child to begin crying. Riley reportedly shouted, “this is my daughter; my first born,” as the child reached for her mother.
According to the affidavit, Riley then turned his attention to a baby who was still in a car seat and attempted to remove the child from the seat. The woman told police Riley appeared to be stumbling and having difficulty walking straight and believed he had been drinking alcohol earlier.
When she told Riley she believed it would be best for her and the children to leave with her mother, investigators say Riley became enraged and began shoving both the woman and her mother while throwing items around the kitchen. Both women reportedly called 911.
Authorities say Riley grabbed the baby and kept the child away from her mother while continuing to shove both women and throwing them to the ground. While holding the baby, Riley allegedly ran down the stairs, opened the garage door, and ran outside with the child.
Court documents state the grandmother was able to grab the baby from Riley, but Riley allegedly shoved both the grandmother and the child into a cement wall, causing injuries to both. The grandmother reportedly suffered a large cut and bruising to her left hip and left elbow, while the baby suffered a bruise to the forehead.
Investigators say the grandmother placed the baby in her vehicle, but Riley jumped into the passenger seat, shut the vehicle off, and threw the keys out of the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle and walking toward the driver’s side, the woman reported Riley struck her in the face and choked her. Officers observed the woman bleeding from the left side of her face when they arrived.
Police say Riley also struck the grandmother outside the vehicle, causing a busted lower lip and breaking her glasses.
Authorities say Riley attempted to flee the scene but was pursued by officers and taken into custody near the 8100 block of Hickory Street before being transported for booking.
According to the affidavit, Riley was argumentative and combative with Gary Police Department staff, and the Lake County Jail SORT team had to physically remove him from the transport vehicle.
Investigators later reviewed photographs sent by the victim showing a laceration near her left eye, the grandmother’s injured lip, and bruising on the child’s forehead. All three were evaluated by Gary Fire Department medics and did not seek hospital treatment, according to the affidavit.
Lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed March 6,2026:
• Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Bodily Injury — Level 5 Felony
• Neglect of a Dependent — Level 6 Felony
• Domestic Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury — Level 6 Felony
• Domestic Battery Committed in the Presence of a Child Less Than 16 Years Old — Level 6 Felony
• Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury — Level 6 Felony
