NEWARK, DE — Delaware State Police say a routine call for a suspicious person escalated into a serious alleged crime Monday afternoon at a busy shopping plaza in Newark, resulting in the arrest of a Wilmington man.
According to Delaware State Police, troopers responded on Monday, December 29, 2025, to Center Pointe Plaza at 1291 Churchmans Road after receiving a report of a suspicious individual in the parking lot. Upon arrival, multiple bystanders directed officers to a man later identified as 45-year-old Victor Shipley of Wilmington, who was seen walking through the lot and placing personal items beneath a parked vehicle.
Investigators allege that Shipley approached a woman as she was loading her vehicle and demanded money. Police said the woman handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and entered the driver’s seat in an attempt to leave. Authorities allege Shipley then entered the front passenger seat of the vehicle, demanded the woman perform a lewd act, took her car keys, and refused to allow her to leave.
A passerby reportedly engaged the pair and, finding the interaction suspicious, contacted 9-1-1. Police said Shipley eventually exited the woman’s vehicle before troopers arrived and took him into custody without incident. The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the encounter, according to police.
Shipley was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 2, where he was charged with attempted to commit robbery in the first degree, attempted to commit sexual extortion, and unlawful imprisonment in the second degree. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $56,000.00 cash bail.
All charges are allegations. Any suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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