A Wilmington man, 47-year-old Charles Smedley, was taken into custody by Delaware State Police following an incident at a Middletown construction site last week. According to the official report released by the department, the arrest occurred on September 4th, after Smedley allegedly threatened a former coworker with a machete-like object.
Troopers were dispatched to the scene at around 2:10 p.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance, and upon arriving, observed Smedley attempting to leave in his Chevrolet truck. The encounter took place near the intersection of Pennfield Drive and Port Penn Road. During the confrontation, it is alleged that Smedley, who was notably dismissed from his job that day, pushed the 24-year-old victim into a construction machine resulting in a physical scuffle. Afterward, Smedley reportedly fetched a large sharp object from his vehicle, approaching the victim in a manner that authorities deemed menacing. Despite the escalation, the situation was defused by the intervention of the victim's coworkers who managed to keep the two separated.
In the following interaction with the police, troopers noted signs of impairment in Smedley's behavior including, but not limited to, the smell of alcohol. They conducted a search of his truck which not only corroborated their observations with the discovery of both empty and unopened alcohol containers but also yielded the large piece of sharp metal initially reported as a weapon. Smedley was subsequently arrested without further incident.
Further investigation at Troop 9 involved the administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests to Smedley. Checking his background, authorities found this was not Smedley's first brush with the law, given his two prior DUI-related convictions, and a status as a convicted felon which should have precluded him from having a deadly weapon. He was charged with possessing a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, aggravated menacing, possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, and third offense DUI – all felonies. Smedley is currently being held at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $50,000 cash bond.
This latest arrest brings to light ongoing issues related to workplace violence and the intersection of substance abuse with criminal activity. Smedley's arraignment at Justice of the Peace Court 11 has ensured that he will remain in confinement as the case moves forward through the legal system.
