Rehoboth Beach, DE- Delaware State Police have arrested Joshua R. Daniels, 25, of Lincoln and Malik R. Rothwell,24, of Ellendale on multiple criminal charges after engaging in a physical altercation with a gun and attempting to flee from troopers.  

On December 25, 2021, at approximately 1:01 a.m., troopers were dispatched to the Big Chill Surf Cantina located at 19406 Coastal Highway for a fight in progress. Reports indicated two individuals were struck in the face with a pistol, and one suspect fired a weapon. The suspects fled in a red Mitsubishi Outback SUV before troopers’ arrival. As a trooper was traveling southbound on Coastal Highway, the suspect vehicle was observed turning onto Coastal Highway as they exited the parking lot of the Big Chill Surf Cantina. The trooper conducted a traffic stop on the Mitsubishi, and a strong odor of marijuana was detected. As the trooper approached the vehicle, the front seat passenger, Joshua Daniels, exited the vehicle. As the trooper attempted to take Daniels into custody, he tried to flee from the trooper and resisted arrest. After a short time, Daniels was taken into custody, and he was searched incident to arrest. Located on his person was a 9mm bullet. At the same time, the rear passenger, Malik Rothwell, exited the vehicle and was unsuccessful in attempting to flee from the police. Rothwell was apprehended and placed under arrest.  

Once the suspects were in custody, a search of the vehicle was conducted with the following items located inside:

• 1- Ruger EC9S 9mm semiautomatic handgun with 8 9mm rounds in the gun’s magazine
• Approximately 6.02 grams of Marijuana
• 1 Colt Detective Special .38 special revolver containing 5 loaded .38 special rounds
• 1 .38 special casing
• Approximately 0.077 grams of Heroin

The investigation determined a 23-year-old female and 23-year-old male were exiting the Big Chill Surf Cantina when they were confronted by Joshua Daniels and Malik Rothwell. An argument ensued, which resulted in Daniels striking the male victim in the head with a closed fist multiple times. As the female victim attempted to break up the fight, Daniels began physically assaulting the female before Daniels and Rothwell brandished firearms, began pointing them at the victims and threatened to kill them. Daniels then struck the victims in the face with the handgun. During the fight, Rothwell pointed a gun in the air and fired one round before the suspects fled the scene in the red SUV, which police later stopped.

Joshua R. Daniels

• Three Counts- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
• Two Counts- Assault Second Degree (Felony)
• Two Counts- Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
• Conspiracy First Degree (Felony)
• Terroristic Threatening
• Resisting Arrest
• Possession of Marijuana- Civil Violation

Daniels was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $84,100.00 secured bond.

Malik R. Rothwell

• Three Counts- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
• Two Counts- Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)
• Two Counts- Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
• Conspiracy First Degree (Felony)
• Terroristic Threatening
• Resisting Arrest
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Rothwell was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $107,200.00 secured bond.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline 1800 VICTIM-1. (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov

You can follow the Delaware State Police by clicking on:

Delaware State Police Official Web Site

Facebook

Twitter

Nextdoor

Please tell us how we’re doing via our Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released:

-End-

Print This Page