Delaware State Police have arrested 23-year-old Matthew Perez and 27-year-old Veronica Coleman, both of New Castle, following a violent altercation at a Dollar General store in New Castle on Sunday afternoon.
official said the incident occurred on August 18, 2024, at approximately 4:17 p.m. when troopers were dispatched to the Dollar General located at 1403 Dupont Parkway in response to a reported fight.
The investigation showed that Perez and Coleman, previously banned from the store due to a prior shoplifting incident, became aggressive when escorted out of the store by an employee. Perez, armed with a large knife, threatened the employee and pursued them on foot, while Coleman followed in a black Buick Sedan according to police. Officials went on to say, Coleman released a dog from the vehicle, which then attacked the employee. During the altercation, Coleman also attempted to strike the employee with the vehicle police alleged.
The situation escalated when a 12-year-old bystander attempted to intervene verbally and was threatened by Coleman, who accelerated her vehicle towards the child. Fortunately, the child avoided being struck, but another bystander, a 15-year-old, was nearly hit. The employee managed to escape and run back toward the store, where police arrived and intervened.
Perez and Coleman were both taken into custody after initially resisting. A search of their vehicle uncovered a large fixed-blade knife, and the dog involved was turned over to animal control. The store employee sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and no other injuries were reported.
Perez was charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, aggravated menacing, terroristic threatening, endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $25,500 cash bond.
Coleman faced charges including second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of aggravated menacing, terroristic threatening, endangering the welfare of a child, reckless driving, and criminal trespass. She was arraigned by the same court and committed to Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $9,000 secured bond.
This incident underscores the severe consequences of violent behavior and the swift response by law enforcement to protect the community.
