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Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley


Joint Investigation Leads to Recovery of Drugs and Gun-Wilmington Man Charged


Date Posted: Wednesday, May 16th, 2018

Wilmington – A two month long investigation by the Delaware State Police Governor’s Task Force (GTF), Probation & Parole, and the FBI Task Force, into suspected illegal drug activity at two Wilmington residences, has resulted in the arrest of Ruben P. Harper, 43, of Wilmington, on drug and weapons charges.

Based on a variety of investigative leads and measures, search warrants were obtained for two Wilmington residences and two vehicles associated with Harper. On Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at approximately 6:20 a.m., those warrants were executed at residences in the 300 block of Shipley Road and the 900 block of N. Spruce Street, Wilmington. At the time the warrant was executed at the Shipley Road residence Harper was located and taken into custody without incident.

The subsequent searches of the two residences as well as a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2013 Buick Le Sabre, both registered to Harper, resulted in the recovery of the following:

  • 506 grams powder cocaine
  • 129 grams crack cocaine
  • 54.236 grams (7,748 bags) heroin
  • 753 grams marijuana
  • Stolen Glock 40 caliber handgun with extended clip
  • $16,546 suspected drug money
  • Assorted drug paraphernalia

Harper was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 2 where he was formally charged with the following:

  • Receiving a Stolen Firearm (F)
  • Possession of a Firearm By a Person Prohibited   (F)
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (F)
  • Possession of a Firearm While in Possession of Drugs (F)
  • Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin Tier IV (F)
  • Possession of Heroin Tier V (F)
  • Possession of Powder Cocaine Tier V (F)
  • Possession with Intent to Deliver Powder Cocaine Tier IV (F)
  • Possession of Crack Cocaine Tier V (F)
  • Possession with Intent to Deliver Crack Cocaine Tier IV (F)
  • Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana (F)
  • Possession of Marijuana Tier I (F)
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M)

Harper was then arraigned in the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas before being committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $456,500 cash bail.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin

Released: 051618 1700

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