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Milton man wanted for second-degree rape dies in police custody

March 10, 2022

A Milton man wanted for second-degree rape died March 9 after he was taken into custody at an Indian River Inlet bait and tackle shop.

Delaware State Police went to the bait and tackle shop on 25012 Coastal Highway at 10 a.m. after receiving information that Stanley Bradley, 72, of Milton might be hanging out there, said Master Cpl. Heather Pepper of the Delaware State Police.

As detectives pulled into the parking lot, Pepper said, they saw Bradley exiting the business and they made contact with him. Bradley, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant in connection with second-degree rape, was very cooperative and detectives took him into custody without incident, Pepper said.

Bradley was placed in the front seat of the detectives’ divisionally issued Ford Taurus, with one of the detectives sitting in the backseat and the other driving to Delaware State Police Troop 3. As the vehicle was on Route 1 in the area of Johnson Road, Pepper said, Bradley requested the detectives pull over because he thought he was suffering from a medical event. Detectives immediately pulled over, Pepper said, and both exited the vehicle to check on Bradley, who was by then unconscious. One detective contacted 911 to request medical assistance as the other began performing CPR. Lifesaving measures were performed until EMS arrived; they continued CPR before transporting Bradley to Bayhealth Sussex Campus, Pepper said. Bradley was stabilized and transported to Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus, where he died about 6 p.m. The investigation revealed Bradley had a long medical history and had been hospitalized multiple times during the last year for cardiac issues, Pepper said. Bradley was turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science for an autopsy to be performed. On March 10, she said, the medical examiner ruled Bradley died from natural causes, pending a toxicology examination. There was nothing suspicious and no signs of trauma were found during the investigation, Pepper said.

This case remains pending active by the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit pending the toxicology results. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, no other information will be released, Pepper said.

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