Delmar Police Officer Arrested on Stalking and Unlawful Sexual Contact Charges
Delmar, DE - On March 18, 2026, Delmar police officer Darrell T. Powell was arrested on multiple criminal charges. The arrest follows an investigation conducted by the Seaford Police Department. Powell faces two counts of official misconduct, one count of unlawful sexual contact, and charges of stalking and offensive touching.
"No one, regardless of their profession, is above the law - and my office will adhere to that standard as we move forward," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "I'm grateful to our prosecutors and the Seaford Police Department for their work in investigating this case. I want to express my profound gratitude to the victims for their courage in reaching out to law enforcement - and I ask that any further victims or witnesses with information come forward."
The investigation detailed an incident that occurred on January 7, 2026. Powell responded to a shoplifting call at a grocery store in Delmar, Delaware. During this time, Powell inappropriately touched a staff member and made sexual comments. Later that evening, a family member of the victim observed a police patrol vehicle passing by the victim's home multiple times.
The indictment outlines a second incident on February 24, 2026. Powell inappropriately touched a staff member at a local store while on duty. He had previously made inappropriate comments to this individual in the preceding months.
On another occasion, Powell followed this victim home from work. He initiated a traffic stop without providing a reason and without requesting a license or registration.
Following the receipt of this information on February 26, Powell was immediately relieved of all police duties. He was suspended pending the investigation. The State of Delaware directed that an independent investigation be conducted by an outside agency. Powell is currently held on $27,500 cash bail.
The Delaware Department of Justice notes that charges are allegations and that all defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Individuals with additional information about this case are asked to contact authorities. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of inappropriate conduct by the defendant should contact Delaware Department of Justice Special Investigator Timothy Argoe at 302.257.3294.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
