According to the police report (I’m not linking in order to keep the victim’s name confidential), the incident took place on May 21 of this year. The alleged victim was in the driver’s seat, turned her head toward Josue Ortega, who then allegedly struck her with his closed fist. The reported incident took place in the Save-A-Lot Parking lot on Maryland Avenue.
Ortega is charged with ‘Assault Third Degree Intentionally Or Recklessly Causes Physical Injury To Another’.
The victim had reported a prior incident, that having taken place on August 26, 2025.
State Police Troop 6 conducted a Domestic Violence Lethality Screening with the victim. In the screening, the victim answered yes to the following:
Has he/she threatened to kill you or your children?
Does he/she have a gun or can he/she get one easily?
Has he/she ever tried to choke you?
Is he/she violently or constantly jealous or does he/she control most of your daily activities?
Does he/she follow or spy on you or leave threatening messages?
The police evaluation places her in the category of ‘High danger based on score’.
Darius brown 2.0?
I hope the alleged victim has protections in place. There were reports that a child was a witness to the alleged event.
Has he filed for re-election?
Regardless of whether he has, the legislature needs to amend the candidate background check law immediately. By my understanding, the Governor’s appointed Election Commissioner just reviews the checks and themselves determines a candidate’s eligibility. Shouldn’t there be clear boundaries that can’t be deemed acceptable? Would Hensley have passed if he filed? Does the Commissioner have to release the report and reasoning? It’s time our election laws go beyond “better than nothing”
While im not defending Ortega, he at this time has only been accused of a crime. You can’t disqualify people on that. Hensleys had 2 convictions and people didn’t seem to care. In democracy voters should choose not election officials. If you have a shady past, then the voters decide if they want to vote for you.
Are we disqualifying people who got arrested 20 years ago? Of course not. This is democracy. There are Democrats and Republicans in Dover with lots of personal issues in their past.
This is part of my point. Technically, the way the law is written, the Commissioner could choose to disqualify a candidate based on anything on their background check no matter when it was or what it was.
I linked to this post from FB “DEMs may need a General Election candidate and possibly a Primary Opponent against the incumbent for RD3 as it looks like Josue Ortega’s apparent recent violent assault of a female will disrupt any 2026 campaign. According to the state website, Ortega hasn’t filed yet for reelection.
https://housedems.delaware.gov/members/house-district-3/
https://elections.delaware.gov/…/genl_fcddt_2026.html”
Thank you for not sharing her name.
For anyone who is reading this and it hits too close to home, there are services out there for you: https://dcadv.org/get-help/local-programs.html,
You deserve to be safe at home
He has been accused–not convicted.
That’s why the story included no editorial comment or innuendo.