A Delaware State Police trooper is facing indictment following an investigation into a violent incident involving a 15-year-old boy who had pranked his home. The accused, 29-year-old Dempsey R. Walters, a seven-year veteran of the state police agency, now faces serious charges.
While he has been suspended without pay or benefits, he has not been terminated from his position.
This troubling incident occurred while Walters was on duty. He turned off his body camera during the incident, but unbeknownst to him, it continued to record video without audio.
Video footage revealed Walters approaching a Delaware State Police SUV where the handcuffed boy was held. Another trooper moved aside as Walters struck the boy in the face.
Walters then circled the SUV and directed a light at the teen, who turned to face the interior of the vehicle. At this point, Walters activated his body camera, capturing audio.
During this tense encounter, Walters can be heard saying, "You sure about that?" while the frightened boy pleads, "Please tell me what I did?"
Walters now faces multiple charges, including second-degree assault (a felony), deprivation of civil rights (a felony), two counts of third-degree assault (misdemeanors), and two counts of official misconduct (misdemeanors). Attorney General Kathy Jennings described Walters' actions as "embarking on a violent rampage" and expressed her deep concern about the constitutional violations evident in the case.
State Police Col. Melissa Zebley issued an apology to Walters' victims, including one who was not involved in the prank, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and promising measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The incident unfolded when Walters, off duty and on his way home on August 17, confronted a 17-year-old boy he suspected of wrongdoing near the entrance to his neighborhood in Elsmere, Delaware. This initial confrontation led to a verbal altercation, prompting Walters to call the Elsmere police.
The teen was taken to his home in Lancaster Village but was not charged. However, Walters later accessed the state's law enforcement information database to gather information about the teen.
A few days later, on August 21, a 15-year-old boy and his friends engaged in a prank known as "ding-dong ditch," knocking on doors and running away. When the 15-year-old kicked Walters' door around 8:30 p.m., startling Walters' girlfriend, the trooper, who was on duty, was called.
Walters drove towards his home, summoning Delaware State Police troopers and other law enforcement agencies for assistance. The incident was reported as an attempted home invasion, leading to the deployment of the state police helicopter and K-9 units.
While at his house, Walters received information from a witness that several juveniles had run past him towards the street where the 17-year-old boy lived. Walters and an officer from Newport went to the home of the 17-year-old boy and, at gunpoint, removed the teens from the house. However, these teens were not involved in the earlier "ding-dong ditch" prank.
The teens were forced to the ground, and one can be heard on body camera video pleading for help and calling for his mom. They were held in hot police cars for hours before being released. The mother of the 17-year-old boy was told it was all a "misunderstanding."
The indictment alleges that Walters left the scene after handcuffing the 17-year-old and then struck the 15-year-old boy in the neck and head with his knee. Walters also turned off his body camera, approached the police vehicle, and struck the boy's face twice, causing an orbital fracture.
This indictment adds to the list of recent charges against Delaware law enforcement officers. It underscores the need for thorough investigations and accountability within law enforcement agencies.
In another devastating turn of events, the estranged husband of a young mother from Virginia, Avriel Hooks, is facing serious charges. Avriel's lifeless body was discovered in a wooded area late August, a week after she was last seen by her family. See detailed story here
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