Delaware State Police
News Release

‘Male Cinderella’ Drags Trooper during Traffic Stop- Leaves Shoe Behind while Fleeing on Foot

Released- Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wilmington- Yesterday evening, July 1st, at approximately 7:56 p.m., a Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a 1995 brown Chevrolet Impala on DuPont Road and Maryland Avenue. The stop was for a traffic violation. The officer approached the driver and asked for identification. The driver was unable to provide an ID at which point the Trooper asked this operator to step from the car.

The driver- later identified as Ronald J. Curtis, 24, of Highlander Avenue in Newark- allegedly reached up, grabbed the Trooper’s arm, pulled him toward the car and accelerated quickly. The Trooper was drug for about ten feet before breaking lose.

A vehicle pursuit ensued which lasted for approximately 15 minutes. The chase ended in the city of Wilmington on 30th Street. Curtis got out on foot and fled from officers. ‘Cinderella’ left something behind that helped to later identify him, a flip flop sandal. Curtis again had run out of his footwear and was later located, walking barefoot on North Van Buren Street. He was taken into custody without incident. The original officer who had stopped the Impala positively identified him- and yes, the shoe fit.

A computer check revealed Curtis was driving with a suspended license. He did not have insurance on the car and the tags displayed on the back of the car were fictitious. It was also noted there was a second subject in the car at the time of the traffic stop, however, this person was not apprehended or identified.

The Trooper sustained only some redness to his arm, and otherwise, he was not injured.

Ronald Curtis was formally charged with Assault 2nd on a Police Officer (felony), Reckless Endangering 1st (felony), Possession of a Deadly Weapon [car] during the Commission of a Felony (felony), Resisting Arrest (felony), Disregarding a Police Officers Signal (felony) and forty one (41) other traffic offenses.

Prior to arraignment, officers also learned that Curtis was currently out on bail in reference to another court matter. He was arraigned on these most recent charges and the Howard Young Correctional Institute on $44,100.00 secured bail.