A man in Florida died after getting into a confrontation with police. Richard Myron Ham, 39, and Lakenya Phillips, 30, were reportedly burning Phillips' 9-year-old son's possessions on the front lawn of a home in Sebring. Concerned witnesses called 911, and when medics and law enforcement arrived, Ham allegedly became combative.
Phillips and Ham allegedly worked together to burn the boy's possessions because they reportedly believed a demon had possessed him. Ham reportedly refused to cooperate with police and ended up dead.
More from CafeMom: Demons Possess 3 Children in Real-Life Horror Story
Witnesses reportedly called 911 because the fire appeared 'suspicious.'
Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman posted a video message on Facebook on December 19, sharing that a witness made a call just after 4 p.m., reporting a group of people burning debris on Bay Blossom Drive. Both fire crews and sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene because of the "suspicious nature" of the incident.
Blackman said firefighters arrived first and were immediately confronted by Ham, who allegedly armed himself with two metal rods.
Ham allegedly refused to comply with police.
Blackman explained that deputies confronted Ham, who allegedly began to attack.
"Ham refused to follow deputies' orders and a taser was deployed. The taser did not appear to have an effect on Ham. Ham pulled the taser probes from his body and re-armed himself with one of the bars. He then swung the bar and struck a deputy in the head," he said.
A deputy reportedly pulled his gun at 4:22 p.m. and shot Ham.
"Ham was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The injured deputy was taken to another hospital, where he was treated and released," Blackman said in the video.
The investigation reportedly revealed an unusual motive.
Blackman said investigators allegedly discovered that Ham and Phillips were burning the boys' belongings because they believed he was possessed by a demon. A witness also alleged that before the deputies' arrival, Ham put the child into the fire and covered him with a blanket that was also on fire, but the child apparently escaped with only minor injuries.
Phillips and the little boy were not from the area.
According to Blackman, Phillips and the boy were reported as missing and endangered on December 6 in Wichita, Kansas. He said it is unclear when or how they got to Highlands County.
"Multiple firearms and drugs were found in the vehicle Ham and Phillips were driving at the time," Blackman said.
More from CafeMom: Arizona House Fire Claims the Lives of 5 Children While Dad Was Out Christmas Shopping
The child reportedly told police Ham and his mother used drugs.
According to a news release posted on the sheriff's Facebook page, the boy told deputies that he had not brushed his teeth in at least 10 days and had not eaten in 24 hours.
"He said that both Ham and Phillips had regularly been using drugs and that Ham had earlier threatened him with a large knife, as well as claiming he had used that knife to kill someone. Investigators are working with law enforcement in several states to follow up on that statement," the release reads.
Phillips was being held in Highlands County Jail without bond on charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and cruelty toward a child.
Her son is in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
