Dover man charged with assaulting an officer

A 22-year-old Dover man assaulted an officer after police responded to a trespassing call in Magnolia on Monday evening, state police said. 

Elijah H. Peterson had refused to leave the home in the Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park Monday at 5:30 p.m. when police arrived, said Master Cpl. Melissa Jaffe of Delaware State Police. 

An officer from the Delaware Natural Resources Department started talking to Peterson, who was standing in the front yard of the home, but he refused to give any information, Jaffe said. 

The officer called for backup, and Peterson became aggressive toward the officer, Jaffe said. 

After Peterson did not follow commands, the officer deployed his Taser. Peterson continue to resist as the officer tried to place handcuffs on him, and he assaulted the officer, Jaffe said. 

Police said Peterson also damaged to a window pane on the home. 

Peterson was charged with resisting arrest, second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, third-degree criminal trespass, and two counts of criminal mischief.

He was arraigned and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on a $6,501 secured bond. 

Contact Josephine Peterson at (302) 324-2856 or jhpeterson@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @jopeterson93.