Shantez Devonte Ferguson

On Thursday, a call to police to investigate a disorder at a group home for mentally challenged adults has led to the arrest of a resident on rape charges.

Shantez Ferguson, 22, of 1612 Truman Avenue, a resident of the home, was charged with Rape. He was jailed on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in East Ridge Municipal Court on Feb. 7.

According to an affidavit of complaint, police were called to the address at 4 a.m. on Thursday. Officers spoke with a staff member who told them that he was outside the house talking on the phone when he heard yelling from inside the house. The staff member told police that he went inside to the room where the yelling was coming from and the door was locked.

The staff member kicked down the door to the room and discovered Ferguson on top of another resident who was nude. The nude man beneath Ferguson was screaming for help. The report states that Ferguson became angry with the staff member and began shoving him. 

Officers spoke with Ferguson who told them that he had entered the room and was just wrestling with the victim. The victim was under the covers nude and when it became hot, Ferguson said he took his shirt off.

The report states that officers explained the severity of the situation to Ferguson, who is mentally challenged, and “implored” the man to tell the truth.

According to the report, Ferguson then told police that he was in the living room of the group home and heard a noise inside the victim’s room. He went to investigate and entered the room. At that point, Ferguson said, the nude victim got up from his bed, shut the bedroom door behind Ferguson and locked it.

The report states that Ferguson told officers that he “took his clothes off and got on top” of the victim.

According to the report, once the victim was able to compose himself he said that Ferguson did indeed penetrate him against his will.

The report notes that both men have various mental health issues.

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