Newark, DE – A Wilmington man was arrested Monday afternoon after police say he attempted to rob a woman and assaulted her in a Newark shopping plaza parking lot before being taken into custody without incident.
According to Delaware State Police, troopers were called to Center Pointe Plaza at 1291 Churchmans Road on December 29 after reports of a suspicious person. Multiple witnesses directed officers to a man later identified as 45-year-old Victor Shipley, who was seen placing personal items beneath a parked vehicle.
Investigators determined that Shipley approached a woman loading her car and demanded money. After she handed over an undisclosed amount, Shipley entered the passenger seat and ordered the victim to perform a lewd act. Police said he then grabbed her car keys and refused to allow her to leave.
A passerby who noticed the encounter spoke briefly with Shipley and the victim before contacting 911. Shipley eventually exited the car and was detained by responding troopers moments later. The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Shipley was taken to Delaware State Police Troop 2 and charged with attempted robbery, unlawful imprisonment, offensive touching, and related offenses. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $56,000 cash bail.