01/10/2025
A mental evaluation and escalated situation resulted in Donovan Linn Bartlett, 21, of Stover, being arrested for wielding a knife at family members after a previous visit with Stover Police Department.
On the evening of Jan. 5, Bartlett was booked into the Morgan County Detention Center, charged with Mental Commitment, Domestic Assault 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Domestic Assault 4th Degree, 1st or 2nd Offense.
At 6:48 p.m. that day, Stover PD was called by family members to the home of Bartlett, according to a probable cause statement. The young man was reportedly yelling and the family requested a 30-day mental evaluation. Those in the home reported that Bartlett had a long history of mental illness, was diagnosed with schizophrenic and his meds were no longer working. They had advised Bartlett to take a walk and cool off, and Bartlett left in a t-shirt and pajama pants. Witnesses called dispatch and reported that the young man was seen walking in the 14-degree weather in the snow along the road. Police meanwhile found Bartlett had returned home, taken his medicine and reportedly went to bed.
At 9:16 p.m, Stover Police Department was contacted from the home again; this time Bartlett was wielding a knife. Another resident of his home was reported to have been stabbed and slapped by Bartlett. He admitted in his Miranda Interview arrest that he had stabbed a family member in the elbow. He was wrestled to the ground by another family member who removed the knife. The victim refused medical treatment and refused to press charges. The scuffle started when another family member had insulted Bartlett and “set him off.” He punched the victim in the face, and then another family member punched Bartlett in the face. He sustained a wound to the knee and refused treatment and to press charges.
An arrangement is scheduled in Morgan County Circuit Court for Jan. 14 with Judge Stephen Grantham. Bartlett was held on a 96-hour mental evaluation.
