Rehoboth Beach woman facing charges for assaulting a police officer

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – A Rehoboth Beach woman is facing charges after she allegedly punched and fled from a Rehoboth Beach Police officer during an investigative stop Monday evening.

At approximately 6 PM, police were called to respond to the Royal Farms located in the 400 block of Rehoboth Avenue, for a report of a disorderly female throwing trashcans outside the store. When officers arrived, they discovered the store clerk locked inside the store.

It was then learned that prior to arrival, 26-year-old Kiona Cypress was seen fighting in the parking lot, and before fleeing the area in a vehicle, allegedly knocked over trashcans and newspaper stands outside the store, spreading trash and debris around the parking lot.

Officers were successful in locating and conducting an investigative stop of the vehicle along Rehoboth Avenue Extended, in the area of Henlopen Junction. During the stop, Cypress, who was a passenger in the vehicle, reportedly punched an officer in the chest and then fled on foot into the Henlopen Junction complex. An officer caught Cypress on foot, and as the officer was attempting to place in her handcuffs, Cypress kicked him multiple times, damaging his uniform.

Cypress was eventually handcuffed and arrested, but police say she continued to fight and resist officers throughout the process. We’re told that no one was seriously injured during the incident.

Cypress was charged with one count each of offensive touching of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and failure to comply with taking of fingerprints and photographs. She was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $3,500 secured bail.