Delaware

Lawsuit targets Delaware cops for violent response to ‘ding dong ditch’ prank by teens

Published

9 months ago

July 16, 2025

Lawsuit targets Delaware cops for violent response to ‘ding dong ditch’ prank by teens

Trooper Walters punched the handcuffed teen in the face

The lawsuit recounts what happened early in the evening of August 21, after a 15-year-old kid kicked the door of Walters’ home while playing “ding, dong, ditch,’’ a prank where someone rings a home’s doorbell, knocks or hits the door, and runs away before someone comes to the door.

Walters, a five-year state police veteran, was on duty and not home. But his live-in girlfriend reviewed the Ring doorbell camera footage and called him to report the incident.

Walters drove there and contacted state police and the other local agencies about a fabricated home invasion, the lawsuit said.

According to the indictment of Walters, which a New Castle County grand jury handed down in September 2023, he and other officers knocked on the door of one teen’s home, “forcibly” pulled him outside, and “forced him onto the ground,’’ causing unspecified injuries.

Walters handcuffed and detained him in the back of a police vehicle. The teen was later released without being charged.

Walters began heading home, but another trooper reported that he’d found the 15-year-old teen who kicked the door and two friends. When Walters arrived at the scene, the 15-year-old was “face down on the ground’’ as the other trooper “struggled’’ to handcuff him behind his back, the indictment said.

Instead of observing, however, Walters “almost immediately’’ struck the teen “in the back of the neck/head with his knee,’’ the indictment said.

The teen was eventually handcuffed, and put in another trooper’s cruiser. While that was occurring, Walters “turned off his body-worn camera,’’ walked to the vehicle, and punched the handcuffed teen “in the right side of his face, causing an orbital fracture,’’ the indictment said. The orbital bone is commonly referred to as the eye socket.

Then, Walters walked around the vehicle and turned his camera back on. But the punch had already been documented on video because the camera continued recording, with the youth screaming in pain afterward, the indictment said.

The third teen was detained in a police vehicle for more than two hours before being released without being charged with any crime, the lawsuit said.

State police reviewed the body camera footage almost immediately, and the next day notified the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust in the office of Attorney General Kathy Jennings.

Dempsey was immediately suspended, and a month later, he was indicted.

Johnson said the lawsuit seeks to punish the cops and their agencies for harming children who were just engaged in harmless fun at the end of their summer vacation, especially the 15-year-old.

“He has both long-lasting permanent injuries, but also has had difficulty in school and has had to give up the sport that he loves playing, which is baseball. He can no longer play for his high school team.”

The victims “continue to struggle to this day. They’ve tried to move on, but unfortunately the traumatic effects of this occurrence nearly two years ago is still plaguing them.”

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Delaware

Delaware’s first elementary school radio station hits the airwaves

Published

3 hours ago

April 22, 2026

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Delaware’s first elementary school radio station hits the airwaves

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 5:44AM

WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) — Something exciting is taking flight in the hallways of Warner Elementary School in Wilmington.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer helped celebrate the launch of the state’s first elementary school streaming radio station on Tuesday.

“Flying High with Thunderbird Radio” will provide students with hands-on experience in broadcasting, public speaking, and content creation.

This innovative initiative empowers students to step behind the microphone and lead the way in digital storytelling, communication, and creativity.

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Delaware

Lucky Duck a new destination on the Delaware River waterfront

Published

15 hours ago

April 21, 2026

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Lucky Duck a new destination on the Delaware River waterfront

ByTimothy Walton

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 7:08PM

NORTHERN LIBERTIES (WPVI) — Lucky Duck is a new eatery along the Delaware River waterfront. The restaurant offers an approachable menu with an American Bistro style food with a creative collection of cocktails and brews.

The space is part of the Rivermark Apartments on Columbus Boulevard which took the place of Festival Pier. The Lucky Duck was part of the build out that includes a Sprouts Grocery store and the residential space.

The Lucky Duck has a tavern atmosphere with a wall of windows that overlook the river. The setting includes a nook for darts, a claw machine with rubber ducks and a pizza window for late night slices after the kitchen closes.

The indoor space includes nearly 70 seats and will be complemented by patio seating that will double to occupancy of the eatery.

Lucky Duck | Facebook | Instagram
501 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Suite 2003, Philadelphia PA 19123

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Delaware

Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for April 20, 2026 – AOL

Published

1 day ago

April 21, 2026

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Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for April 20, 2026 – AOL

The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Monday, April 20, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing

09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 3 numbers from April 20 drawing

Day: 2-2-8

Night: 4-8-2

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from April 20 drawing

Day: 5-8-5-9

Night: 8-8-4-8

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from April 20 drawing

02-04-06-10-11-25

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from April 20 drawing

05-07-31-41-43, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from April 20 drawing

Day: 1-5-6-0-1

Night: 0-6-7-5-5

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky?Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw?Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for April 20, 2026

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