State Police Investigating Sexual Assault in Dover

Date Posted: Wednesday, August 19th, 2026

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The Delaware State Police are investigating a sexual assault with a weapon that occurred Tuesday morning at a construction site in Dover.

On August 18, 2026, at approximately 9:50 a.m., troopers responded to a construction site on Lacey Lane, in the Nobles Pond community in Dover, for a report of a sexual assault. When troopers arrived, they learned that earlier in the morning, around 8:00 a.m., an unknown white male suspect, wearing a mask, had approached a 28-year-old male victim at the construction site, threatened him with a knife, sexually assaulted him, and fled towards a wooded area near Pearsons Corner Road and Seven Hickories Road. Police checked the area for the suspect but were unable to locate him.

The suspect is described as a white male, last seen wearing a black mask, tan or khaki pants, a black shirt, gloves, and had a knife.

The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with relevant information about the case to contact Detective E. Paneda at (302) 698-8444. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime, or you have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need 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 at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

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