NEW CASTLE, DE — Delaware State Police have arrested a 27-year-old Middletown man following an investigation into an alleged assault initially reported as a robbery in a New Castle warehouse parking lot.
Authorities said that around 6:00 p.m. on October 24, troopers were called to the 2400 block of Bear Corbitt Road after a 25-year-old Newark man reported being attacked during what was believed to be a robbery.
According to investigators, the victim had arranged to meet a man he had been communicating with via text messages to sell Apple products. When the suspect arrived in a dark-colored SUV, he allegedly exited the passenger side, attempted to forcibly take the items, and struck the victim multiple times in the back of the head with what appeared to be a handgun. The suspect then fled without taking the merchandise. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Through investigative efforts, detectives identified the suspect as 27-year-old Najee Chambers of Middletown. Police determined that Chambers and the victim were acquainted and that the incident did not involve a robbery. Instead, it was determined that Chambers allegedly assaulted the victim during the encounter.
On October 27, detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Chambers without incident in Bear. He was taken to Troop 2, charged with first-degree assault, and later arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2. Chambers was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $60,000 cash bond.
All charges are allegations, and Chambers is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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