Seaford man arrested and charged for two Sunday evening assaults
Two incidents, two assaults, one suspect. Law enforcement says two assault incidents that happened in Seaford on Sunday evening, were committed by the same man.
Seaford Police say it all started around 5:15 PM, when Officers were called to the Wal-Mart parking lot on Sussex Highway, for reports of a strong armed robbery. Once on scene, Police say they met with a 54-year-old woman, who said that a man had approached her, and demanded money. The suspect then reportedly assaulted the woman, causing non- life threatening facial injuries.
The victim was rushed to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released. Officers in the area searched for the suspect, and found 35-year-old Jerome Roach on Middleford Road, who matched the description of the suspect. Roach was arrested, and during that investigation it was found that he was also involved in another crime in the area.
Delaware State Police say around 6:50 PM, an 81-year-old woman was on the side of her house, when a man, later identified as Roach, approached her. The woman apparently told Police that Roach was helping the woman down to the road, to see if her cat had been hit in the road, when he started attacking the woman, punching her in the face.
Once the victim fell to the ground, the suspect fled without taking anything from the woman. The victim was rushed to Nanticoke Hospital by EMS due to severe injuries to her head and face. DSP say they released the description of the suspect over the radio to all area Police Departments, and found that Seaford Police had him in custody in connection to the Wal-Mart parking lot attempted robbery and assault.
The 81-year-old woman’s home is apparently directly behind the Wal-Mart. Seaford PD charged Roach with attempted strong armed robbery 1st, assault 2nd, criminal trespass 3rd, and criminal mischief, while DSP charged him with assault 1st intentionally causes serious physical injury to a person 62-years or older.
He is being held at Sussex Correctional Institution on $47,000 cash bond and $35,000 cash only bond, respectively. The 81-year-old woman has since been transferred to Christiana Medical Center, where she is currently admitted and listed in stable condition.
