On Monday the Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust indicted a former Wilmington Police Officer after an investigation revealed that he sent lewd text messages to a 17-year-old whom he met while on duty, officials said Monday.
Officials said Brandon Cooper, 30, initially met the teen in March 2020 at Kingswood Community Center while working on assignment. The victim was listed in Cooper’s phone as “Yougn” [sic]. Officials alleged this was due to her age. Between December 2, 2021, and January 1, 2022, Cooper and his victim engaged in a series of explicit text messages, including nude photos of the victim and Cooper encouraging sexual acts according to a statement released by the DOJ. The communications allegedly include a December 2 video message which depicts Cooper, while wearing a WPD uniform, saying “look” and then aiming the camera at his exposed, erect penis officials said Monday. Cooper also encouraged his victim to keep their communications secret added prosecutors.
On December 3, the Division of Family Services (DFS) responded to the victim’s residence in response to the victim’s report of a sexual abuse incident that did not involve Cooper. Cooper, however, was dispatched to the residence to assist DFS. Upon his arrival, the victim advised that a sexual assault did not occur, and later disclosed to her DFS Social Worker that she recanted her statement because Cooper had sent her a video of him exposing his penis prosecutors alleged in their statement. DFS informed WPD of the victim’s disclosure, and WPD immediately opened an investigation and informed DCRPT.
Cooper is charged with Sexual Solicitation of a Child, a Class B Felony, along with misdemeanor charges of Official Misconduct and Lewdness. If convicted, he could face more than 26 years in prison.
This indictment was secured by the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust following a criminal investigation by DCRPT and the Wilmington Police Department with the cooperation and support of the Division of Family Services.