Docs: Bloomington security guard struck homeless man twice with baton

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A security guard monitoring a Bloomington park has been arrested for allegedly hitting a homeless man with a police baton.

According to court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4, an officer with the Bloomington Police Department was flagged down by 52-year-old Randall Deboer on Sept. 27. Police confirmed that Deboer worked as a security officer for Marshall Security LLC, also known as MSI Security.

class="wp-block-heading">Initial investigation

Deboer reportedly told the officer that a homeless individual had assaulted him after trespassing into People’s Park, located at 501 E Kirkwood Ave. That individual was still on the scene.

Court documents show that his account did not appear to line up with Deboer’s version of events. The homeless man told police that Deboer was the one who allegedly attacked him. As their conversation continued, the officer observed “fresh lumps” on the victim’s right temple and left cheekbone.

The homeless individual added that the altercation started when Deboer told him to leave People’s Park. He replied by asking if he could have a few minutes to finish eating his food. It was at that moment that Deboer allegedly struck the homeless man twice with a baton.

The officer then turned his attention to Deboer, who claimed that the homeless man aggressively approached him. In response, Deboer said he drew his baton and issued a warning. Deboer said the homeless man ignored the warning, so he struck him with the baton.

During their conversation, the officer asked Deboer if his body-worn camera was activated to capture the incident. Deboer said it was not on and that he did not think to turn it on afterward.

Video footage sheds new light

The following day, officers sifted through video documenting the incident. At the beginning of the video, Deboer can be seen approaching the victim. Around one minute later, the homeless man stands up from a bench he was sitting on and begins to walk slowly toward Deboer.

The homeless man then appears to point his finger in Deboer’s face without making any contact. The next frame in the video shows Deboer reportedly drawing his baton. The homeless individual then began to walk backward and pose in a fighting stance. As Deboer stood still, the homeless man approached again while reportedly gesturing with his hands.

It was at that moment that court documents said Deboer allegedly struck the man across the left side of his face with his baton. Deboer then appears to move towards the victim and strike him with the baton a second time.

Deboer then approached the officer’s marked police vehicle.

‘Inconsistent statements’

The officer then conducted a second interview with Deboer and questioned why he had advanced toward the homeless man twice and never backed up, as he had initially claimed. He also couldn’t “provide an answer” as to why the victim’s head was turned to the side, as he recalled only striking him in the arm.

Deboer was placed under arrest and transported to the Monroe County Jail, where he was preliminarily charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon, which is a Level 5 felony. Online court records indicate Deboer is scheduled to appear in Monroe Circuit Court 9 on Jan. 26, 2026, for a jury trial.