DSP News Release: Monday, February 16, 2009- Violent Domestic Incident Results in the Injury of Two Troopers

Location of Incident: Unit Block of Purnell Avenue in Frederica, Kent County

Date and Time of Occurrence: Sunday, February 15, 2009, at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Suspect(s): Jonathan A. Young, 27, of Purnell Avenue

Resume:  Yesterday evening, Troopers were called to the unit block of Purnell Avenue in Frederica in reference to a domestic incident.  The 911 caller, a 22-year-old female, requested police assistance as she and her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Young, were involved in a domestic incident in which he allegedly pushed her.

While she was speaking with State Police Dispatchers, Young allegedly snatched the phone from the female and ended the call.  Knowing that police were responding, Young took the victim’s phone and ran off.

Officers began to conduct an area canvas and located Young hiding in a home under construction on Hillside Avenue. Young refused to obey officers’ commands to surrender and he ran back to the Purnell Avenue home.  He fled  upstairs and into a bedroom.  Troopers had to force open the bedroom door and were met by a violent Jonathan Young.

A fight ensued and Troopers tried to take Young into custody with the use of pepper spray, however, he did not respond. He continued to resist by assaulting the Troopers and this altercation moved back down to the first floor.  At one point, Young tried to remove a Trooper’s gun from the holster.  Additional officers responded to the scene and attempted to subdue Young with the use of a Taser. The first Taser application was unsuccessful, the second application enabled officers to handcuff Young. As officers were escorting him back to a patrol car, Young spat on a Felton Police Officer. 

In this incident, one Trooper sprained his ankle, twisted his knee and also suffered other contusions.  The other Trooper strained his knee and suffered a contusion to his head.  Both officers were treated at Kent General Hospital.  Young was also evaluated at Kent General, however, he refused treatment.

Jonathan Young was formally charged with the following offenses: Removing or Attempting to Remove Firearm from Possession of Law Enforcement (felony), 2 counts of Assault 2nd on Law Enforcement (felony), Resisting Arrest (felony), Offensive Touching on Law Enforcement Officer (felony), Malicious Interference with Emergency Communications (misdemeanor), Offensive Touching (misdemeanor) and Trespass 3^rd (misdemeanor).  He was committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $42,100.00 secured bail.

Jonathan Young