NEW CASTLE, DE — A 26-year-old Newark man is facing multiple felony charges after New Castle County police said he allegedly struck another person with brass knuckles during a confrontation Saturday night.
Officers responded at approximately 9:50 p.m. Sept. 12 to the 200 block of West Franklin Avenue in the Wilmington Manor community for a reported assault involving brass knuckles, according to police.
Police said officers obtained a description of the person involved and located an individual matching that description at West Franklin and Pennsylvania avenues.
Officers identified the man as Dillian Coates, 26, of Newark. Police reported finding brass knuckles in his possession.
Investigators said Coates had allegedly gone to a residence looking for an acquaintance who was not home. Police said a dispute then developed between Coates and another person and escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the altercation, Coates allegedly struck the victim with brass knuckles before leaving the residence, according to police.
The victim was treated by responding emergency medical personnel and later released, police said.
Coates was charged with felony counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, second-degree assault, and possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited. He also faces misdemeanor counts of offensive touching and violation of probation.
Coates was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $26,200 cash bail, police reported.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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