DOVER, Del.- Delaware State Police say a Philadelphia man under arrest in Dover grabbed a trooper's Taser stun gun and used it on her in an attempt to get away.
Hughie Cooper, 31, is charged with second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer (felony), resisting arrest (felony), and third-degree criminal trespass (misdemeanor).
Police said troopers were called to the 2000 block of Chestnut Grove Road at around 9:40 a.m. Thursday after a 47-year-old male victim reported a suspicious person on his property. According to police, the victim ordered the suspect- later identified at Cooper- to leave his property and Cooper did. A description of Cooper was given to the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center and was broadcast to responding troopers.
Police said that as a 25-year-old female trooper was traveling on Kenton Road in the area of Chestnut Grove Road, she observed an individual that matched the description given by dispatchers. Authorities said that once Cooper saw the patrol car, he immediately started running toward the area of Maple Dale Golf Course. Police said the trooper got out of her vehicle and began running after Cooper, giving several commands for him to stop.
Investigators said the chase continued into a wooded area where the trooper observed Cooper lying on his back with his hands balled up underneath a shirt across his chest. Police said that as the trooper gave numerous commands for Cooper to show his hands, he failed to comply and the trooper used her Taser on him, which briefly subdued him. Police said struggle ensued between the two and in the process, Cooper was able to take control of the Taser and turn it onto the trooper. The trooper received a slight electrical charge that was not incapacitating, according to police. Investigators said the trooper ultimately managed to restrain Cooper and placed him in handcuffs.
Following his arrest on the aforementioned charges, Cooper was ordered held in lieu of $10,500 cash bail.
Police noted that Cooper was initially transported to Kent General Hospital where he was seen for an unspecified injury before being turned over to Department of Corrections.
The trooper was also taken to Kent General where she was treated for an unspecified injury she sustained in the altercation with Cooper. She was later released.
