Laurel, Delaware –  The Delaware State Police have arrested a Laurel man after he led them on a pursuit.

The incident occurred on Friday, November 23, 2018 at approximately 2:50 a.m., when a trooper on patrol conducted a canvass of the Laurel Royal Farms located at 30983 Sussex Highway, Laurel. A Chevrolet Silverado was observed backed into the north-west corner of the Royal Farms. Wanted suspect, Matthew Patchett, was seen sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The troopers proceeded to activate their emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop when the vehicle fled traveling at a high rate of speed and a pursuit ensued.

The suspect vehicle continued southbound on Sussex Highway and accelerated to high speeds in excess of the posted speed limit. The suspect vehicle was in the left lane of travel and crossed the center line for failure to maintain a single lane while driving at inconsistent speeds. The suspect vehicle came to a controlled stop on the southbound shoulder of Sussex Highway, just south of West Snake Road. Contact with the driver was attempted after the stop and the suspect fled from the stop.

The suspect continued to drive on several roadways in an unsafe and aggressive manner at high speeds. The suspect vehicle was lost and later recovered by the Laurel Police Department behind a residence on Dogwood Lane and the suspect fled in the vehicle from behind the residence, traveling northbound on Dogwood lane. As the suspect vehicle entered the curve on Dogwood Lane the operator Matthew Patchett directed his pickup truck into the direction of a trooper’s patrol vehicle. At this time the suspect vehicle was in close proximity of a head on collision.

The suspect vehicle came to a disabling stop off the north edge of the road on Old Sharptown Road, just east of Williams Road. After refusing to comply with verbal commands, the operator, Matthew Patchett fled from the passenger compartment of the truck. Matthew climbed over the front seat female passenger and exited through the front passenger door to the vehicle. A brief foot pursuit ended with a brief struggle with Patchett.

The driver, identified as 29-year-old Matthew A. Patchett was subsequently taken into custody with the assistance of the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit.  He was transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with multiple traffic violations in addition to the following:

• Burglary 2nd Degree
• Felony Theft
• Two counts of Reckless Endanger First Degree Creates a Substantial Risk of Death to Another
• Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence and Intentionally Fleeing From a Peace Officer
• Disregarding a Police Officer Signal
• Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence
• Registered Sex Offender Failed to Verify Address as Required
• Aggressive Driving
• Speeding
• Failure to Stop At Stop Sign (5 counts)
• No Signal
• Drive Across Median
• Follow to Closely

Matthew A. Patchett was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $8,750.00 secured bond.

Troopers Seek Public’s Assistance in Locating Wanted Suspect – Seaford

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Presented by the Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz

Released: 112618 2249

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