WILMINGTON — A Delaware State trooper has been charged with multiple felonies as part of an assault case that left a 15-year-old with a fractured eye socket in response to an apparent prank, authorities announced Tuesday.

The Delaware Department of Justice and Delaware State Police made the announcement regarding Trooper Dempsey Walters, 29, who is suspended without pay. He was indicted Monday.

Authorities said the trooper engaged in a verbal altercation with a 17-year-old while off duty and returning to his Elsmere residence Aug. 17. The following day, according to authorities, the trooper looked up the juvenile on DELJIS, a controlled access law enforcement database.

On Aug. 21, authorities said, Trooper Walters was on duty when a 15-year-old and three friends decided to play a prank while walking by his house. The 15-year-old ran up to the house and, covering his face, kicked the door and ran off.

According to authorities, the trooper’s girlfriend called him and provided a description. He proceeded to the neighborhood and allegedly called troopers and other police departments for assistance.

Trooper Walters and officers went to the home of the 17-year-old and authorities said he forcibly removed the juvenile out of the doorway and caused injuries. The juvenile was never arrested.

Authorities said the trooper then learned that the 15-year-old and his friends had been located and detained. Authorities said that almost immediately upon arriving, Trooper Walters dropped his knee onto the back of the juvenile’s neck and head area, causing injury and the juvenile to scream in distress.

While being held in the back of a police vehicle and with his body-worn camera off, Trooper Walters allegedly punched him in the face, fracturing his eye socket.

Delaware State Police supervisors immediately referred the incident to the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust when they uncovered his misconduct, and announcement said.

The Department of Justice said Delaware State Police have fully supported the criminal investigation.

“As a mother and grandmother, the footage in this case is hard to watch,” said Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings in a statement.

“As a prosecutor, the constitutional violations are stunning. Over the course of the evening, the defendant chose to extract his own form of personal justice by embarking on a violent rampage, assaulting two defenseless minors, and attempting to conceal his misconduct. He will now face criminal consequences for his actions.”

Trooper Walters was charged with deprivation of civil rights and second-degree assault felonies, along with two counts each of misdemeanor third-degree assault and official misconduct.

This is the Department of Justice’s first use of Delaware’s Deprivation of Civil Rights statute, which is nearly identical to an equivalent federal statute and was passed unanimously last year by state lawmakers, the announcement said.

Delaware State Police Superintendent Col. Melissa Zebley said, in part, “Delaware State troopers are sworn to uphold the highest standards of justice and integrity.

“At the Delaware State Police, we take this responsibility seriously, not only through our policies for handling and investigating all complaints of misconduct, but through our extensive training.

“When Dempsey Walters’ actions were uncovered through a DSP internal body-worn camera review, we immediately suspended him and initiated a criminal investigation. Since then, we have been working tirelessly with the Delaware Attorney General’s office to pursue justice.”