Rehoboth Beach, DE- Delaware State Police have arrested Joshua R. Daniels, 25, of Lincoln and Malik R. Rothwell,24, of Ellendale on multiple criminal charges after engaging in a physical altercation with a gun and attempting to flee from troopers.
On December 25, 2021, at approximately 1:01 a.m., troopers were dispatched to the Big Chill Surf Cantina located at 19406 Coastal Highway for a fight in progress. Reports indicated two individuals were struck in the face with a pistol, and one suspect fired a weapon. The suspects fled in a red Mitsubishi Outback SUV before troopers’ arrival. As a trooper was traveling southbound on Coastal Highway, the suspect vehicle was observed turning onto Coastal Highway as they exited the parking lot of the Big Chill Surf Cantina. The trooper conducted a traffic stop on the Mitsubishi, and a strong odor of marijuana was detected. As the trooper approached the vehicle, the front seat passenger, Joshua Daniels, exited the vehicle. As the trooper attempted to take Daniels into custody, he tried to flee from the trooper and resisted arrest. After a short time, Daniels was taken into custody, and he was searched incident to arrest. Located on his person was a 9mm bullet. At the same time, the rear passenger, Malik Rothwell, exited the vehicle and was unsuccessful in attempting to flee from the police. Rothwell was apprehended and placed under arrest.
Once the suspects were in custody, a search of the vehicle was conducted with the following items located inside:
- 1- Ruger EC9S 9mm semiautomatic handgun with 8 9mm rounds in the gun’s magazine
- Approximately 6.02 grams of Marijuana
- 1 Colt Detective Special .38 special revolver containing 5 loaded .38 special rounds
- 1 .38 special casing
- Approximately 0.077 grams of Heroin
The investigation determined a 23-year-old female and 23-year-old male were exiting the Big Chill Surf Cantina when they were confronted by Joshua Daniels and Malik Rothwell. An argument ensued, which resulted in Daniels striking the male victim in the head with a closed fist multiple times. As the female victim attempted to break up the fight, Daniels began physically assaulting the female before Daniels and Rothwell brandished firearms, began pointing them at the victims and threatened to kill them. Daniels then struck the victims in the face with the handgun. During the fight, Rothwell pointed a gun in the air and fired one round before the suspects fled the scene in the red SUV, which police later stopped.