DSP investigating in-custody death

SUSSEX CO., Del. – Delaware State Police say they are investigating an in-custody death that happened Wednesday morning.

At around 10 a.m., detectives responded to the Bait and Tackle Shop at the Indian River Inlet in an attempt to contact 72-year-old Stanley Bradley after receiving information that he may be hanging out at the business. Police say Bradley was wanted for second degree rape and other related charges involving a child. As detectives pulled into the parking lot they saw Bradley leave the business and made contact with him. Bradley was reportedly very cooperative and was taken into custody without incident.

He was placed in the backseat of the trooper’s vehicle, without another detective also sitting in the back seat. As the vehicle was traveling to Delaware State Police Troop 3 on Coastal Highway in the area of Johnson Road, Bradley reportedly asked detectives to pull over because he thought he was suffering from a medical event. Detectives pulled over immediately and got out of the vehicle to check on Bradley, who was unconscious at that point. 911 was contacted while one detective began performing CPR. EMS arrived and continued CPR before taking Bradley to the Bayhealth Sussex Campus. Once stabilized, Bradly was taken to Bayhealth Kent Campus, where he died at roughly 6 p.m.

Further investigation revealed that Bradley had a long medical history and had been hospitalized multiple times during the last year for cardiac issues. Following an autopsy, the Medical Examiner on Thursday ruled that Bradley died from natural causes pending a toxicology exam. We’re told there was nothing suspicious and no signs of trauma found during the investigation.

The case remains active pending the toxicology results.