A 26-year-old Newark man is facing multiple felony charges after New Castle County Police say he struck another person with brass knuckles during a dispute at a Wilmington Manor residence, then fled the scene before officers caught up with him nearby. Dillian Coates was taken into custody following the incident on Saturday and remains held on $26,200 cash bail.
According to New Castle County Police, officers responded to the 200 block of West Franklin Avenue in the Wilmington Manor community after a report of an assault involving brass knuckles. Investigators say Coates had gone to the residence looking for an acquaintance who was not home, and a dispute with the victim who was there escalated into a physical altercation. Police say Coates struck the victim with brass knuckles before fleeing the residence.
Suspect Located Blocks From the Scene
Officers located an individual matching the suspect's description at the intersection of West Franklin Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, and identified him as Coates, of Newark. The victim was treated by responding emergency medical personnel and released, per the same account.
Wilmington Manor is a census-designated place in New Castle County covering about 1.63 square miles with roughly 8,162 residents as of the 2020 Census, according to Wikipedia.
Stacked Felony Charges Under Delaware's Weapons Laws
Coates was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters, where he was charged with one felony count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, one felony count of assault in the second degree, one felony count of possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, one misdemeanor count of offensive touching, and one misdemeanor count of violation of probation, the report states.
Delaware law treats brass knuckles as a serious matter. Under Title 11, Section 222 of the state code, metal knuckles are explicitly defined as a deadly weapon alongside firearms, switchblades and bludgeons, according to Delaware Code Online. That classification is what elevates the case beyond a simple physical dispute into multiple felony-level offenses.
The most serious charge, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, is a Class B felony under Title 11, Section 1447. The assault charge itself is second-degree assault, and another charge alleges possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited.
Why the Charges Could Mean Extended Prison Exposure
The potential sentencing consequences for the weapons-related charges are not specified here.
Coates was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7. The account does not describe the court's operating role.
Following his arraignment, Coates was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution. Coates remains held there in lieu of the $26,200 bail set in his case.
The violation of probation charge is listed in the report, but police have not detailed the underlying conviction or supervision. The victim's identity and current condition beyond being treated and released have not been disclosed.
