NEWARK, DE — A reported burglary in progress in a quiet Newark neighborhood escalated into a violent confrontation Wednesday afternoon, ending with a Middletown man in custody and facing a slate of felony charges, New Castle County Division of Police said.
Officers were dispatched at approximately 3:00 p.m. on January 14, 2026, to the unit block of Winding Road in the Norwegian Woods neighborhood after receiving a report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, police observed two individuals fleeing from a residence and quickly detained both while securing the scene.
One of the individuals was later identified as 26-year-old Da’Aron Griffin of Middletown. Officers noted that Griffin was barefoot at the time he was taken into custody.
According to investigators, Griffin allegedly went to the residence to confront a 30-year-old male victim. Police said a physical altercation occurred outside the home before the victim managed to re-enter the residence. Authorities allege Griffin then began damaging the windshield of a vehicle parked in the driveway.
Police said Griffin subsequently damaged a window and an entry door before entering the residence while allegedly armed with two knives. Once inside, investigators allege Griffin attempted to force entry into a bedroom. During that struggle, a 65-year-old man inside the residence sustained a laceration to his head while attempting to prevent the door from being forced open. The injury was treated and determined to be minor.
Authorities said the 30-year-old victim later fled the residence, with Griffin allegedly following him outside. Officers were arriving at that moment and detained both individuals pending further investigation. Police later located one of Griffin’s shoes inside the residence and found his vehicle parked nearby on the street.
Griffin was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters, where he was charged with two felony counts of aggravated menacing, one felony count of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, one felony count of burglary in the first degree, and one felony count of assault in the second degree. He was also charged with multiple misdemeanors, including theft under $1,500, criminal mischief over $1,000, resisting arrest, offensive touching, and an additional count of criminal mischief under $1,000.
Griffin was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $145,000.00 cash bail.
All charges in this case are allegations. Griffin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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