Delaware State Police
News Release

Lewes Man Steals Police Vehicle

Released - Sunday, March 29th, 2009

Lewes - The Delaware State Police are presently investigating a Trooper involved shooting which occurred on Savannah Circle, at approximately 3:30 pm on today's date. 

A Delaware State Trooper was conducting a follow-up investigation into residential burglaries in the Lewes area.  This investigation resulted after John C. Austin, 18, of East Atlantic Apartments, Lewes, was arrested this morning for his involvement in a domestic related assault. 

Shortly before 3:30 pm, a Detective drove Mr. Austin to the development of Savannah Place, on Donovan's Road in an effort to identify homes that were recently burglarized.  While in the area, the trooper was out of his vehicle talking to an area resident when the defendant slid across the front seat into the driver’s side of the vehicle and attempted to flee from the trooper, striking the area resident with the vehicle.

The trooper, in an attempt to stop the defendant from fleeing, drew his divisionally issued firearm and fired several rounds at the vehicle in an attempt to disable the vehicle. The defendant fled the area while the trooper attended to the injured resident who was later treated at Beebe Medical Center for non life threatening injuries.

Troopers from the Delaware State Police as well as officers from surrounding police jurisdictions saturated the area conducting a search for Mr. Austin and the vehicle.  Within a short time, the police vehicle was located abandoned in the rear of Hawkseye Point neighborhood. 

Mr. Austin was eventually located at a residence in the unit block of Spinning Wheel Drive, within Colonial East Mobile Home Park, Lewes.  Troopers located Mr. Austin hiding in a rear bedroom where he was taken into custody. 

As a result of this incident, Mr. Austin was charged with the following offenses:

 

• 1-Count of Carjacking (Felony)
• 1-Count of Assault 1st Degree (Felony)
• 1-Count of Burglary 2nd Degree (Felony)
• 1-Count of Possession of a Weapon During a Felony
• 1-Count of Resisting Arrest (Felony)
• 2-Counts of Criminal Mischief (Felony)
• 1-Count of Escape 3rd Degree (Misdemeanor)
• 1-Count of Resisting Arrest (Misdemeanor)
• 1-Count of Theft Under $1000.00 (Misdemeanor)

 

Additionally, detectives were able to link Mr. Austin to two Lewes area burglaries and arrested him for two counts of Burglary 3^rd degree, two counts of Theft and two counts of Criminal Mischief.  He has been remanded to Sussex Correctional Institute in default of secured bond.

The Trooper involved in this incident has been placed on administrative duty per divisional policy. 

 

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