Naked Clemson student accused of assaulting roommate on bus, pointing knife at deputies

OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A man is facing several charges after he allegedly assaulted another man while naked on a Clemson Area Transit bus and threatened deputies with a knife in Oconee County.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old Daylen Ishamel Dicks following a reported assault that occurred in Seneca.

An investigation was initiated on Tuesday, August 27, when dispatch was advised that a man was hitting another man at Highpointe Boulevard. Upon arrival, the victim reported to deputies what happened as he boarded a CATbus on his way to class. The man said his roommate, identified as Dicks, chased him naked and hit him multiple times in the face and neck with closed fists as they entered the bus.

The altercation was caught on camera Tuesday by a student.

“Yea that got around campus pretty quick and I think it caught everyone off guard,” said sophomore Michael Phillips.

“It was pretty disturbing,” said freshman Jack Kerrigan.

“I couldn’t comprehend that it came from our school of all places,” said Marley Forshay. “Seeing him fight someone and being completely butt naked is just not what I expected to see in broad daylight.”

A sheriff’s office incident report stated that the bus driver told Dicks to leave several times. He eventually exited the vehicle and headed towards The Flats apartment buildings where both individuals reside, according to deputies.

Officials went with the victim to the apartment. Upon their entry, they saw Dicks in the nude sitting in an office chair down the hallway. Authorities asked Dicks to put clothes on but it was reported that the suspect refused, stood up and danced while shaking his private parts in the officials’ direction.

While speaking with the suspect, deputies reported that Dicks was shouting obscenities, beating on the walls and comparing himself to fictional characters in Marvel movies. Law enforcement said the suspect never gave a clear answer to deputies if he had taken any illegal substances that day. When officials told Dicks he was under arrest, the incident report stated that he went into his bedroom and locked the door but eventually opened the door after being told several times he was under arrest.

Deputies stated that when Dicks returned to the hallway, he began walking towards them in an aggressive stance. According to the sheriff’s office, when a deputy presented a stun gun in defense, Dicks went into his bedroom and retrieved a knife.

Dicks was told multiple times to put the object down and place his hands behind his back, deputies said. It was reported, during the incident, Dicks did put the knife down at one point but picked it up again before putting it back down.

Authorities were eventually able to get Dicks to comply and place his hands behind his back. Deputies found clothing for the suspect but he reportedly was not cooperating when officials attempted to assist him. Deputies later placed Dicks in their patrol car and booked him into the Oconee County Detention Center.

He was charged with third-degree assault & battery, indecent exposure, two counts of resisting arrest, two counts of threatening the life of an official and public disorderly conduct, according to the sheriff’s office.

Despite what happened on the CATbus and the actions that followed, students said it doesn’t change how they feel about the university. Many of the students 7NEWS spoke with Thursday said they feel safe both on and off-campus.

“Oh yea, absolutely. It’s a good place to be,” said Jon Garvey.

“I think it’s pretty crazy. Clemson is quite the safe area and I’ve loved every minute I’ve been here,” said Garrison Dull.

“Clemson is definitely the last place I would expect to see something like that, but, you never know. College is college,” Forshay added.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said Dicks remained at the detention center Thursday afternoon where he waited to see if a judge would grant him a bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.