A Delaware mother is speaking out after what she describes as a traumatic encounter with Dover Police Department officers on Saturday, June 28th.
Hope York, a married mother of four, alleges that she and her children were held at gunpoint by officers who believed the vehicle they were riding in was stolen. According to her, while the car was reported stolen, the driver was actually the rightful owner, and the situation was a misunderstanding.
“They literally held guns to my 3- and 8-year-old’s faces while forcing them to exit the vehicle,” she stated in her written account.
Hope shared that her children are thriving students and loving siblings. Her 14-year-old son just graduated junior high earlier this month with honors, receiving seven awards and earning a perfect score on state exams. She also has 8-year-old twin daughters and a 3-year-old daughter who were present during the incident.
She further alleges that officers would not allow her to call anyone to pick up her children and instead threatened to contact child protective services. She says that only after being held in a cell did police realize the mistake and release them without charges.
“No apology, just the explanation that ‘white cops are dying’ and that my kids may have been a threat,” she recounted.
She also claims officers told her to “not be a racist” and to leave the station before they found a reason to ticket or arrest her “for real.”
🚨 No Incident Report Filed
According to her, no incident report was filed, and the family left the police station without any documentation of the stop, detention, or their release.
🔍 No Official Statement Yet
At this time, Dover Police Department has not issued a public statement addressing these allegations. The family is calling for accountability, transparency, and a full investigation into how the situation was handled.
📝 Why It Matters
This alleged incident raises concerns about policing practices, racial bias, and the treatment of minors during traffic stops involving reported stolen vehicles, and highlights the need for clear protocols to protect families in such high-risk encounters.
