Delaware State Police have taken a 45-year-old Wilmington resident into custody following an incident at a Newark shopping plaza that began as a report of suspicious activity.
Victor Shipley was apprehended Monday afternoon after authorities responded to Center Pointe Plaza on Churchmans Road on December 29, 2025. Officers initially received calls about a suspicious individual in the area.
When troopers arrived at the shopping center located at 1291 Churchmans Road, witnesses pointed them toward Shipley, who was seen moving through the parking area and storing personal belongings beneath a parked vehicle.
According to the police investigation, Shipley confronted a female shopper who was putting items in her car and asked her for money. The woman complied, giving him an undetermined sum before getting into her vehicle to drive away. However, Shipley then climbed into the passenger side of her car and made inappropriate demands while taking her keys and preventing her departure.
The situation caught the attention of another person in the area, who approached the pair and became concerned enough to contact emergency services. Shipley eventually exited the woman’s vehicle and was taken into custody by arriving officers without resistance. The victim suffered minor injuries during the encounter.
Following his arrest, Shipley was transported to Troop 2 headquarters where he was processed on several criminal charges. He appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 2 for arraignment and was subsequently held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution with bail set at $56,000 cash.
The charges filed against Shipley include:
• Attempted to Commit Robbery First Degree (Felony)
• Attempted to Commit Sexual Extortion (Felony)
• Unlawful Imprisonment Second Degree