Delaware State Police officials say they have launched an internal review after a video circulating on social media shows a trooper pulling a woman from a vehicle and deploying a stun gun during an arrest near Dover.
What police say happened
State police acknowledged the video late July 9 and said the incident took place about 6:05 p.m. July 7 near South Bay Road and Lafferty Lane. Authorities say the initial traffic stop followed an officer learning the vehicle’s registration had been suspended because of an insurance violation.
Police identified the driver as a 38-year-old Dover woman who also had a suspended license and had been cited for the same offenses five days earlier. After the trooper issued citations and initially planned to let her go, he later determined department policy required the vehicle to be towed. A second stop occurred on East Lebanon Road near a McDonald’s, where officers say the woman refused orders to move the car into the restaurant lot and would not exit the vehicle.
According to the department’s account, the trooper attempted to remove the woman from the car and met resistance when she gripped the steering wheel. The encounter escalated and, as seen in the video, the trooper used a stun gun.
"As with all incidents involving a response to resistance, a proactive internal review was initiated immediately following the arrest and is currently underway,"
The department said the review is intended to provide context and maintain transparency and trust between the agency and the community it serves. The trooper involved remains on active duty, and police did not release his name.
Charges, bail and next steps
The woman was arrested and charged with 10 offenses, including second-degree assault, resisting arrest and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She was released after posting $10,000 cash bail.
- Traffic stop: July 7, ~6:05 p.m.
- Location: near South Bay Road & Lafferty Lane; second stop on East Lebanon Road
- Defendant: 38-year-old woman from Dover
- Officer status: remains on active duty; internal review ongoing
| Alleged offenses | Details |
|---|---|
| Second-degree assault | One of 10 charges filed |
| Resisting arrest | Reported refusal to exit vehicle, holding steering wheel |
| Endangering welfare of a child | Four counts among the charges |
| Bail | $10,000 cash — posted, defendant released |
Video of the arrest has circulated widely online and raised questions about use-of-force tactics during traffic encounters. The department emphasized it began the internal review "immediately" after the arrest and said the inquiry is ongoing. Officials did not provide additional information about body-worn camera footage or whether other officers were placed on administrative duties pending the review.
This incident comes amid broader national conversations over policing practices and transparency when force is used during routine stops. Locally, the department’s public statement aims to reassure residents that procedures are being followed while the agency examines the actions of its personnel.
As the review proceeds, criminal proceedings related to the charges will continue in the courts. The department’s initial statement and the video itself remain the primary sources of information publicly available at this time.
