(Middletown, Del. 19709) – On Friday, September 11, 2026, at approximately 5:00 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Ridge Court in the Cantwell Ridge community for a reported disturbance inside a residence. The suspect, later identified as 22-year-old James Alie, had fled the residence prior to officers’ arrival.

Officers gathered information regarding the disturbance and determined that Alie had physically confronted a victim inside the residence, resulting in property damage. During the dispute, Alie confronted another victim and threatened to cause them serious physical injury if they called 911. When the victim attempted to call 911, Alie physically assaulted the victim and took their cell phone, preventing them from contacting police.

The victim and several children were able to flee to a safe location, where they called 911 and reported the incident.

As officers arrived and began searching for Alie, an officer located him standing on the roof of another residence in the 800 block of Ridge Court. As additional officers arrived, Alie jumped from the neighboring residence’s roof. Officers then took Alie into custody. Emergency medical services also responded and provided medical aid to Alie.

As officers continued their investigation, they located remnants of a fire in a downstairs living area and determined that Alie had started the fire while several people were inside the residence. Due to the fire, the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted to assist with that portion of the investigation.

Alie was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was arraigned and charged with the following offenses:

• Three felony counts of Aggravated Menacing
• One felony count of Robbery Second Degree
• Three misdemeanor counts of Terroristic Threatening
• Three misdemeanor counts of Criminal Mischief Under $1,000
• Two misdemeanor counts of Assault Third Degree
• Two misdemeanor counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• One misdemeanor count of Theft Under $1,500
• One misdemeanor count of Malicious Interference with Emergency Communications
• One misdemeanor count of Breach of Release
• One misdemeanor count of Criminal Trespass Second Degree

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office also charged Alie with:

• Four felony counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree
• One felony count of Arson in the First Degree

James Alie was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $74,000 cash bail.