Civil lawsuit filed against Delaware State Trooper after alleged “brutal” attack of teen

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The families of two teenage boys assaulted by a former Delaware State Trooper have filed a civil lawsuit alleging a coordinated law enforcement cover-up in the aftermath of a ding-dong-ditch prank gone violently wrong.

Delaware State Trooper lawsuit

The accused former officer, Dempsey Richard Walters, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to multiple felonies, including second-degree assault and Deprivation of Civil Rights, marking the first application of Delaware’s new civil rights statute. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree assault and official misconduct stemming from the August 2023 incident.

Alleged Assaults Following Teen Prank

According to documents from Attorney General Kathleen Jennings’ office, the events began in 2022 when the victims — then aged 15 and 17 — played a prank involving ringing doorbells and running away.

On Aug. 17, 2023, while off duty, Walters confronted the 17-year-old at his home and initiated a verbal altercation. He contacted the Elsmere Police Department, which transported the teen home without pressing charges. Days later, officials allege Walters accessed confidential law enforcement databases to look up the boy.

On Aug. 21, while on duty, a 15-year-old reportedly kicked Walters’ front door. Walters’ girlfriend, home at the time, notified him and provided a description.

Walters allegedly called in other departments for support before locating the 17-year-old and using force to restrain him. He later learned of the 15-year-old’s location and reportedly dropped his knee into the boy’s head and neck. After placing him in a police vehicle, Walters is accused of disabling his body-worn camera, walking to the back of the car, and punching the boy in the face, fracturing his eye socket. He then reactivated his camera.

Attorney General Jennings described the incident as a “brutal, dishonest, and unacceptable” breach of law enforcement ethics.

Allegations of Systemic Misconduct

During a press conference on Wednesday, July 16, attorney Samuel Davis, representing both families, accused the former trooper of orchestrating a cover-up with other officers.

Lawsuit Targets Delaware State Trooper and other Law Enforcement

The lawsuit names Walters, current Delaware State Police officials, and supervisory personnel as defendants. It seeks damages for emotional trauma, physical injuries, and civil rights violations.

Preliminary hearings in the lawsuit are expected to begin later this year.