State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security

 

Division of State Police

 

Superintendent Robert M. Coupe

DSP News Release:  Friday, October 23, 2009- Subjects Charged with Assaulting Trooper

 

Location: TJ Maxx, 5627 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, New Castle County

 

Date of Occurrence: October 22, 2009, at 5:43 p.m.

 

Suspect(s):

  • Rodney Styles, 36, of Wellens Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Jessica Perez, 25, of Mascher Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Resume: Yesterday evening, a Troop 1 patrol officer was dispatched to the TJ Maxx on Concord Pike for a report of a shoplifting in progress.  The DSP dispatch center, RECOM, relayed information to the responding Trooper pertaining to the suspect’s description.

 

As the officer pulled up, store personnel advised the suspect had just left.  He was then seen running from the scene toward Route 202.  A foot pursuit ensued and the Trooper finally caught up to the suspect.  The suspect began to actively fight with the Trooper striking him in the face.  The Trooper was eventually able to handcuff the suspect who was identified as Rodney Styles. 

 

As the Trooper was holding down Mr. Styles and waiting for back-up, Styles’ girlfriend, Jessica Perez ran up to the Trooper and struck him.  Back-up arrived and took Perez into custody.  She was found to have been in possession of marijuana. 

 

Mr. Styles was found to have been in possession of a pair of needle nose pliers and K-9 nail clippers.  This investigation revealed he was using these items to remove security tags from store merchandise.  A check of the area yielded the bag Styles carried out of the store with the stolen merchandise.  Inside, $259.00 in clothing was found.

 

Rodney Styles was formally charged with Assault 2nd of a Law Enforcement Officer (felony), Possession of Shoplifting Tools (felony), Resisting Arrest (felony) and Shoplifting (misdemeanor).  He was committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institute in lieu of $8,000.00 secured bond.  

 

Jessica Perez was formally charged with Office Touching of a Law Enforcement Officer (misdemeanor) and Possession of Marijuana (misdemeanor).  She was issued a $600.00 unsecured bond and released from custody. 

 

The Trooper did not require medical attention, however, received several scrapes and bruises. 

 

Rodney Styles

 

 

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