The Dover Police Department has arrested Mark Coleman, a 33-year-old Maryland man, for kidnapping and rape after an incident that occurred on September 3, 2022, according to Master Corporal Ryan Schmid.
Schmid said at 2:24 a.m., the Delaware State Police took the report of a rape involving a 14-year-old Dover girl. After speaking with the victim, it was determined that the incident occurred within the City of Dover, and the investigation was turned over to Dover Police Department detectives. Detectives learned that Coleman is known to the victim and picked her up from a residence outside of the City.
Schmid said Coleman then drove her to a vacant business in the area of 730 West Division Street in Dover. While at the business, Coleman began to physically assault the victim and prevented her from exiting the vehicle said. After Coleman physically assaulted the victim, he began to sexually assault her added Schmid.
The victim was able to escape the vehicle by kicking and fighting with Coleman and eventually call 911 from a passerby’s cell phone. Coleman then fled the area in an unknown direction. The victim was taken to Bayhealth Kent Campus and treated for injuries sustained during this assault.
Shortly after this incident, Detectives obtained warrants for Coleman, however, they were unable to locate him at that time.
On 09/08/2022 Coleman was taken into custody by the Middletown Township Police Department in Pennsylvania after being contacted on an unrelated complaint.
Coleman is currently being held in Bucks County Detention Center awaiting extradition back to Delaware on the following charges:
-Kidnapping Second Degree
-Rape Second Degree
-Assault Second Degree
-Theft Under $1500 (2x)
-Terroristic Threatening
-Unlawful Sexual Contact Second Degree
The relationship between Coleman and the victim is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim said Schmid.