Man tries to file assault charge, gets arrested instead

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Mobile man who filed an assault report with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office  wound up arrested on sodomy charges on Tuesday.

The Mobile County Sheriff's Office said Davante Rooks, 19, came to them saying he had been beaten by several people last Sunday.

“September ninth, he came into the Mobile County Sheriff's office to file assault charges, and when he did we opened an investigation,” said Lori Myles, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

Investigators went to Grand Bay, where Rooks said the assault took place.

“Come to find out, once we did the investigation, we found that he had allegedly abused a seven-year-old child known to him,” Myles said

During interviews with the people Rooks accused of beating him, authorities said they learned he had molested the little girl. They said when they found out, they beat him.

“Once we conducted our investigation we were able confirm that an act of sodomy actually was committed,” said Detective Launduke Bagsby with the the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.

Rooks was booked into Metro jail on Tuesday; he's charged with sodomy.

“He has admitted to some of the crimes and now we go forth from here,” Myles said.

The girl, whose name has not been released, is being counseled at the Child Advocacy Center in Mobile.

Officials do not know why family members didn’t call authorities when they found out about the abuse. Myles said, had Rooks not come in to file the assault charge, she isn’t sure they would have been uncovered at all.

“Now, perhaps, maybe the family didn't know it either. Maybe all of this came out at one time,” said Myles.

Investigators said Rooks' assault complaint against those who allegedly beat him will be reviewed by the district attorney’s office.

The sheriff's office said to call them if you are a victim of a crime, before taking matters into your own hands.