Mentally Disabled Man Beaten in Odessa
By: Alanna Quillen
Updated: March 4, 2012
ODESSA -- A mentally disabled man was attacked in his own home Thursday night, and the alleged attacker is his own roommate.
Tyler Lesley is a 25 year old, high functioning special needs adult. But mentally, he's closer to a 10 year old.
Lesley has a job and even lives on his own with a long time friend and special needs roommate. But a third, unwanted roommate has caused him more than just a headache.
"Tyler doesn't know how to tell people 'No' and they sometimes take advantage of him," said Tyler's mother, Ronda Lesley.
Around 11:30 PM Thursday, that new roommate allegedly beat him after an argument between Tyler and the roommate's girlfriend.
"He punched me right there and everywhere," Tyler said. "I was trying to defend myself, if sounded like he hit my ears."
The result of the beating on Tyler: a black eye, bruises, and a possibly broken nose.
The man who allegedly threw the punches called police immediately afterwards. Tyler called his family, scared.
"I was bleeding," said Tyler. "I'm still feeling really bad."
Each man filed police reports, stating they were attacked by the other.
Even if the roommate had no visible injuries, had Tyler pressed charges, he would be arrested, too.
"Tyler had blood on him," said Ronda. "And the police were not cooperating at all."
"We have to approach them with such caution," said Cpl. Sherrie Carruth of the Odessa Police Department. "Because even though there's a disturbance between two people, once police arrive on the scene, it becomes a volatile situation."
The stories conflicted. Officers left Tyler with his family and made sure to separate him from the roommate to prevent further violence.
Still, if charges are made and more information gathered, police can go back with a warrant.
"If we don't feel comfortable with information that's told to us, we're not going to make an arrest if there's something we don't feel comfortable with or we can't prove," Carruth said.
Mental health and Mental Retardation services visits Tyler multiple times a week and his mother sees him every day to monitor him. After Thursday's beating, that has to change.
"Tyler will move back home with me because I don't want anything like this happening again," said Ronda.
Especially after feeling that her own son was not protected at all.
"I don't think think it's right," Ronda said. "Evidence speaks for itself."
Tyler Lesley is a 25 year old, high functioning special needs adult. But mentally, he's closer to a 10 year old.
Lesley has a job and even lives on his own with a long time friend and special needs roommate. But a third, unwanted roommate has caused him more than just a headache.
"Tyler doesn't know how to tell people 'No' and they sometimes take advantage of him," said Tyler's mother, Ronda Lesley.
Around 11:30 PM Thursday, that new roommate allegedly beat him after an argument between Tyler and the roommate's girlfriend.
"He punched me right there and everywhere," Tyler said. "I was trying to defend myself, if sounded like he hit my ears."
The result of the beating on Tyler: a black eye, bruises, and a possibly broken nose.
The man who allegedly threw the punches called police immediately afterwards. Tyler called his family, scared.
"I was bleeding," said Tyler. "I'm still feeling really bad."
Each man filed police reports, stating they were attacked by the other.
Even if the roommate had no visible injuries, had Tyler pressed charges, he would be arrested, too.
"Tyler had blood on him," said Ronda. "And the police were not cooperating at all."
"We have to approach them with such caution," said Cpl. Sherrie Carruth of the Odessa Police Department. "Because even though there's a disturbance between two people, once police arrive on the scene, it becomes a volatile situation."
The stories conflicted. Officers left Tyler with his family and made sure to separate him from the roommate to prevent further violence.
Still, if charges are made and more information gathered, police can go back with a warrant.
"If we don't feel comfortable with information that's told to us, we're not going to make an arrest if there's something we don't feel comfortable with or we can't prove," Carruth said.
Mental health and Mental Retardation services visits Tyler multiple times a week and his mother sees him every day to monitor him. After Thursday's beating, that has to change.
"Tyler will move back home with me because I don't want anything like this happening again," said Ronda.
Especially after feeling that her own son was not protected at all.
"I don't think think it's right," Ronda said. "Evidence speaks for itself."
