Viral video captured a confrontation between a state trooper and a woman as he arrested her during a traffic stop in Dover, Delaware. On Tuesday, July 7, around 6:05 p.m., a Delaware state trooper pulled over 38-year-old Sierra Hopkins of Dover, Delaware, as she was driving in the area of So uth Bay Road and Lafferty Lane. Investigators said a computer inquiry showed that the registration on Hopkins’ vehicle – a Mercury Grand Marquis – was suspended due to her being uninsured. The trooper spoke with Hopkins while four children were inside the car, officials said. Hopkins’ license was also suspended and she had been pulled over and cited by state police earlier in July due to the same violations, according to investigators. Hopkins told the trooper her insurance had been canceled but she was working to fix it, officials said. The trooper initially told Hopkins that he would issue a traffic citation but he wouldn’t tow her car due to her circumstances, according to investigators. State police said the trooper should have towed Hopkins’ vehicle, however, given public safety. After the trooper and Hopkins argued, Hopkins was given a citation and she then drove away, state police said. When the trooper returned to his vehicle, he decided that he should have towed Hopkins’ car, given the circumstances and state police policy. The trooper then pulled Hopkins over a second time in the left-turn lane on East Lebanon Road near the entrance of a McDonald’s restaurant. The trooper told Hopkins that he had changed his mind and would tow her car, officials said. He then told her to drive her vehicle into the McDonald’s parking lot. Hopkins refused to move her car and refused to leave the vehicle, according to state police. The trooper then began to pull Hopkins out of her car but she held onto the steering wheel, officials said. The trooper then pulled out a Taser and Hopkins then got out of the car, according to state police. Léelo en español aquí. The trooper then told Hopkins to lie on the ground but she refused, officials said. The trooper then moved her to the ground and attempted to take her into custody, according to investigators. State police said Hopkins continued to resist, kicked the trooper and scratched his face with her fingernails. As the struggle continued, the trooper stepped away from Hopkins and fired his Taser at her, according to officials. Other troopers responded to the scene and Hopkins was taken into custody. The confrontation was captured on video that circulated on social media. Hopkins was taken to Delaware State Police Troop 3 headquarters. She is charged with second-degree assault – injure a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with force or violence that injures or struggles with peace officer causing injury, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief under $1,000, driving while suspended or revoked, failure to have required insurance, and additional license and registration violations. In a GoFundMe page created to help with her legal fees, family members said Hopkins is the mother of the four children who witnessed the incident. “She was pulled from her vehicle, punched, and subjected to a Taser while her four young children watched in fear,” the organizer of the page wrote. “No child should ever have to witness something so traumatic, and no mother wants her children to carry those memories.” While Hopkins is in custody, Delaware State Police continue to investigate the incident and are asking anyone who witnessed it or has video of it to contact Lieutenant J. Jones at Troop 3 at (302) 698-8449.  “While the trooper was authorized and expected to tow the vehicle, we acknowledge and recognize that the perception of the second stop and the events that occurred after have generated a lot of questions,” said Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “The events surrounding the arrest are being reviewed. Additionally, we are working with members of our Police Accountability Committee to ensure transparency and address any questions that may arise from the community.  As we work through this incident, we remind those we serve that the best course of action in situations that you feel are unjust is to comply with lawful orders and follow up with troop supervision or the Office of Professional Responsibility about your concerns. As always, we remain committed to upholding the trust and partnership in the community that we serve.”  In a statement, Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer also addressed the traffic stop and said he was aware of the video circulating online. Read the full statement from the governor below: “My administration is aware of the recent video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop of a female driver in the Dover area on July 7, 2026. Every law-enforcement officer is entrusted with a duty to protect, to serve, and to uphold the dignity and rights of every person, in every community. Policing relies on trust. That trust is not automatic; it is earned every day through mutual respect, integrity, and transparency. The people of Delaware deserve transparency, and this administration will not turn away from that responsibility. After I was notified of the incident, I met as soon as possible with leadership at the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Delaware State Police and reviewed the footage. My office, DSHS, and the State Police are committed to working with the State Police community review board, the NAACP of Delaware, as well as reviewing internal policies, and ensuring all trainings meet the highest standards. Under Secretary Bushweller and Colonel Crotty’s leadership, they have taken a proactive approach in notifying my office, developing a plan to address this incident, and working with stakeholders to ensure community trust. This incident is being fully investigated.” Delaware State Police have not released the identity of the trooper involved in the incident. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less