Dover, DE – A Dover man is facing a series of felony and misdemeanor charges following an alleged assault and aggravated menacing incident reported late this week near a local hotel.
According to Delaware State Police, the incident occurred Thursday around 10:20 p.m. in the parking lot of the Microtel Inn & Suites on East Lebanon Road. Troopers say a man and woman were walking along a path behind the hotel when they were allegedly approached by an unknown male suspect. Authorities allege the suspect threatened the victims, pointed a firearm at them, and sprayed the female victim with pepper spray before fleeing the area.
Police said the victims ran to safety and contacted 9-1-1. Emergency crews responded, and the female victim was evaluated on scene but declined further medical treatment.
Through investigative efforts, detectives identified 45-year-old Joseph Chapler of Dover as the alleged suspect. Authorities obtained a warrant, and Chapler was taken into custody Friday without incident.
Chapler was transported to Troop 3, where he was formally charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of aggravated menacing, two counts of terroristic threatening, and third-degree criminal trespass. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $94,001 cash bond.
Officials have not released a motive in the alleged incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
Chapler is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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