On April 14, Sgt. Caro Spearman, a suspended Wilmington Police Officer, was indicted by the New Castle County Superior Court on charges of Assault Third Degree, Offensive Touching, and two counts of Official Misconduct. This development follows an investigation conducted by the Wilmington Police Department alongside the Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust.
Attorney General Kathy Jennings commented on the case stating, "The evidence in this case is alarming. The overwhelming majority of police officers in this state are a credit to their name and their communities—but when a sworn officer breaks the law, it is imperative to hold them accountable. I am deeply grateful to our prosecutors for this important work, and to the Wilmington Police Department for their timely and thorough cooperation with this investigation."
Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos expressed concerns over the allegations: "The allegations in this case are very concerning, and reflect behavior that I believe falls far short of the high expectations we set for our public servants. We immediately brought this incident to the attention of the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust and have been assisting them in their investigation."
The events leading to the indictment occurred on April 9, 2024, when Wilmington Police Department officers attended to a disorderly subject complaint at the Big Fish Grill and the Hyatt Hotel on Justison Street in Wilmington. During the arrest, the victim spat on multiple officers. After being handcuffed, Sgt. Spearman reportedly grasped the victim by the elbow, throwing her to the ground. The victim spat at Sgt. Spearman, who then allegedly slapped the victim, causing her upper body and head to hit the ground. The victim was subsequently treated at Wilmington Hospital and released the same night.