Families of teens assaulted by former Delaware state trooper after ding-dong-ditch prank files new lawsuit
The families of two Delaware teenagers who were assaulted by a former state trooper after a ding-dong-ditch prank in August 2023 have filed a lawsuit against Dempsey Walters, multiple police officers and three departments.
In April 2024, Walters pleaded guilty to assault, deprivation of civil rights and official misconduct. Walters was Delaware's first-ever conviction for deprivation of civil rights. He was sentenced to one year in prison and four years of probation. Attorneys for the victims' family said Walters was released from prison after nine months.
Video from last year shows a 15-year-old boy kicking the door of Walters' house and running away.
Prosecutors said Walters summoned other officers, tracked the boy down, punched him in the face and broke his eye socket.
Officials said Walters also attacked a 17-year-old boy.
Attorneys for the family said Wednesday that others should be held accountable.
"They are feeling that no one has been held accountable other than Walters, and there is no even remote promise that anything has changed so it won't happen again," attorney Samuel Davis said Wednesday.
In a press release, attorneys representing the victims' families allege the Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings and her office have "stonewalled victims' families by withholding critical body-worn camera and mobile video recorder footage promised to the families by her office" for nearly two years after Walters' conviction.
The suit names several officers as well as Delaware State Police and the New Castle, Elsmere and Newport police departments.
The suit also seeks the identities of other officers who may have been at the scene.
All four police departments declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
