Hockessin man says police beat him during probe of shots at Biden home

A Hockessin man arrested about 30 minutes after multiple gunshots were fired near Vice President Joe Biden's Greenville home says he was "accosted" during an altercation with New Castle County Police.

Rock Peters, 57, was not charged in connection with the shooting incident, The News Journal has learned. But he faces reckless endangering and resisting arrest charges after fleeing from an officer near the Biden estate and scuffling with two others just before 9 p.m., according to a police affidavit.

"They're lying through their teeth," Peters said Monday night during an interview at his Hockessin home, saying the officers were the aggressors.

In an interview with The News Journal, Peters said he was beaten by police, and left with a swollen nose, rib injuries, multiple face abrasions and a black eye. Peters provided pictures documenting his injuries.

"They beat the daylights out of me," said Peters, who insists he did nothing wrong. He also denies being connected in any way to the shooting incident.

Police did not comment Monday, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. But in court documents, police said Peters, driving a dark-colored Jeep Wrangler, approached the intersection with Fairthorne Avenue on Barley Mill Road near the entrance of Biden's estate as officers were closing traffic after reports of gunfire about 8:25 p.m.

An officer advised Peters to turn around. "That's the only way I know," Peters told the officer, according to police. "I need to go straight." Peters was headed home after an evening at church and a stop at Walgreens, he said. He lives about 3 miles from Biden's home just over the line from Greenville in Hockessin.

After the interaction, the officer began to walk away but returned after hearing Peters say something, according to court documents.

As the officer approached the front of the Jeep on the driver's side, Peters quickly accelerated, making a U-turn to the left. The officer had to "step back and to the right several steps for fear of being struck by the vehicle," according to police.

Peters sped away but was pulled over by another county officer in the area of 4800 Lancaster Pike, who radioed for assistance, approached the driver's side of Peters' Wrangler and knocked on the door.

Peters opened the door and stepped out, placing his right hand in his right jacket pocket, police said.

The officer, worried that Peters was attempting to hide a weapon, placed his left hand on Peters' arm. "Don't touch me," Peters shouted, according to the police version of events.

The officer grabbed Peters by the back of his head and forced him to the ground. Both officers on the scene then struggled with Peters, attempting to gain control of his hands. As Peters was being taken to the ground, one of the officers struck him in the shoulder, neck and head area with his knee, according to the police affidavit.

When questioned why he exited his Jeep, court records said Peters began "to pray loudly."

Peters, who denied much of what police reported, said he got out of his Jeep after police stopped him. When asked for his license, Peters said he reached into his jacket pocket to retrieve his wallet.

"And that point, without saying a word, he cold-cocked me," Peters said of one of the officers. The freelance writer said he went down to the ground and an officer put a "death chokehold on me. I thought I was going to die right there."

Right before he passed out, Peters said the officer released him, then took a knee to his back, shoving the left side of his face into the ground. Peters added he repeatedly said "I can't breathe, I can't breathe," and thought of Eric Garner who died in Staten Island, New York, after police placed him in a chokehold.

"Same thing that happened to Eric Garner, happened to me," he said. "It was deja vu all over again."

Peters said he comes from a family of law enforcement so this was surprising.

"I'm not anti-cop," he said. "But these guys were extremely aggressive."

One of the few things Peters agrees with what police said, is that he prayed the "Hail Mary."

"That's all I know what to do. I pray a lot," adding he goes to the same church Biden goes to, St. Joseph on the Brandywine.

He was taken to Christiana Hospital to be treated for his injuries, Peters said. After that, Peters said he was taken to the county police headquarters. His girlfriend photographed him inside the police department lobby.

Police did not find a weapon on Peters, or in his vehicle. He faces minor traffic charges stemming from the incident.

Authorities continued their search for a suspect and any witnesses after someone fired multiple shots from a vehicle Saturday night as it drove past Biden's Greenville estate off Barley Mill Road.

The Secret Service and New Castle County Police provided no update Monday.

Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, were in Delaware over the weekend, but were not at home at the time of the shooting incident.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, on Twitter @eparra3 or eparra@delawareonline.com.



