Day: February 16, 2018

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-5326

Date/Time:   Thursday, February 16, 2018 at 7:28PM

Location: WAWA parking lot, 290 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Narrative:

A Dover Police officer was injured while handling a loitering complaint on Thursday night.  At approximately 7:28PM, a Dover patrol officer responded to the parking lot of WAWA located at 290 S. DuPont Highway, for a loitering complaint.  Upon arrival, the officer observed Mario Westbrook (35) who matched the description provided on the call.  The officer attempted to contact Westbrook, but he refused to comply and continued to walk away from the officer and then refused to provide his name or identification.  As the officer attempted to detain Westbrook, he pulled away, taking a fighting stance.  The Dover officer used a taser to subdue Westbrook, but it had no effect.  Westbrook then removed backpacks he was carrying and began fighting with the officer while he attempted to take him into custody.  Westbrook was successfully taken into custody when additional officers arrived on scene.  As a result of the incident, the original responding officer suffered a fractured finger and a ruptured tendon on his left hand. 

Westbrook was committed to JTVCC in default of $21,200 secured bond on the following offenses:
-Disorderly Conduct
-Assault 1st Degree (Law Enforcement Victim)
-Trespass 3rd Degree
-Resisting Arrest with Force (Felony)