DOVER, Del. (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware State Police are reviewing an incident that sparked a viral video of a violent arrest after a car stop near Dover on Tuesday.
The video from people in a nearby McDonald's parking lot shows a woman being pulled from her car and slammed to the ground. She is on her back, struggling with the trooper over top of her as four children who were in the car look on. After she swipes at his face, the trooper appears to throw multiple punches at her head.
Police said the trooper, whose name they are not releasing, stopped 38-year-old Sierra Hopkins of Dover around 6 p.m. at South Bay Road and Lafferty Lane because a computer flagged her registration as suspended due to lack of insurance.
Hopkins had been pulled over and was cited five days earlier for the same violation. She told the trooper she was aware her registration was suspended because her insurance had been canceled and said she was working on it.
The trooper told her he could tow her car, but instead decided to write her a ticket.
But Delaware State Police said that when the trooper returned to his vehicle, he decided that based on public safety and policy, he should have the vehicle towed.
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He pulled Hopkins over again and asked her to pull into a parking lot. She refused. Then, police said when she refused to get out of the car, the trooper started pulling her out after she held onto the steering wheel. He then pulled his taser, and she got out, but refused to get on the ground to be taken into custody.
Delaware State Police said she kicked the trooper and scratched his face, and that the trooper used defensive strikes and backed away to use his taser.
With help from other troopers, Hopkins was taken into custody and charged with felony assault of an officer and resisting arrest, along with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Delaware State Police said an internal review is underway.
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer said he’s reviewed the video and is working with government officials and community leaders, including the NAACP, to address the incident and ensure community trust of law enforcement.
“The people of Delaware deserve transparency, and this administration will not turn away from that responsibility,” Meyer said.
