“State Trooper’s Overreaction: K-9 Units, Helicopters, and Armed Officers Respond to Teen's Alleged 'Ding-Dong Ditch' Prank, Claims Family's Lawsuit”

A former Delaware state trooper has been dismissed and incarcerated following a violent incident involving two teenagers over a "ding-dong ditch" prank. Families of the boys have now initiated legal action against him. The lawsuit arises a year after Dempsey Walters entered a guilty plea for assault and civil rights violations, with additional misdemeanor charges related to the August 2023 confrontation.The grand jury's indictment outlines that on August 17, 2023, Walters confronted a teenage boy he suspected of wrongdoing, leading to the boy's detention without formal charges. After a second boy participated in the prank at Walters’ residence, the trooper reacted by summoning law enforcement to overpower the adolescents. Incidents captured on video reveal the brutality, including Walters striking the 15-year-old, resulting in significant facial injuries. Attorney General Kathleen Jennings condemned the actions as unjustifiable abuses of authority. The plaintiffs are pursuing both compensatory and punitive damages for excessive force and related grievances, prompting reflection on the misuse of power in law enforcement. (Photo: YouTube screenshot/Delaware DOJ)