Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Dover Man Charged with DUI, Hit and Run, Disregarding a Police Officer Signal After a Pursuit – Dover

Date Posted: Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019

ARRESTED John Robinson

Dover, Delaware – The Delaware State Police have charged 25-year-old John L. Robinson of Dover, with DUI, Hit and Run and multiple other traffic-related offenses after he led troopers on a pursuit yesterday.

The incident began at approximately 12:10 a.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2019, when troopers responded to Steele Drive, Kent Acres, Dover for a report of a disorderly subject and a hit and run motor vehicle crash. It was reported that John L. Robinson arrived at the residence, operating a 2010 Subaru Impreza, highly intoxicated attempting to fight other people at the residence. After he was directed to leave the residence, he repeatedly revved his engine and then crashed into a parked vehicle. He left the scene of the crash and moments later returned back to the scene to find his dropped cell phone. The trooper activated emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop. Robinson ignored the trooper and fled at an accelerated high rate of speed and entered the Puncheon Run traveling eastbound towards Bay Road. As he exited onto Bay Road, he turned right into the path of a Honda Accord passenger vehicle which caused a collision sending the Honda into the northbound lane in front of another vehicle and was rear-ended off the roadway (no injuries). He continued to flee and turned into the Capital Park development where Robinson drove around the streets of the development for several minutes. Troopers attempted to use stop sticks in the area of North Governors Boulevard and Presidents Drive. The suspect vehicle was traveling at a slow speed and went up on the sidewalk around the sticks. The suspect then turned back out onto northbound Bay Road, at which time the pursuit was discontinued.

Eventually, all units lost sight as he drove on a back alley road behind Alder park apartments. Later a trooper observed the vehicle on U.S. 13 in the area of Webbs Lane, Rodney Village. After an attempt to stop the vehicle, troopers responded to the driver’s address in Dover. With the assistance of the Dover Police Department, the suspect vehicle was located on Mimosa Avenue one block away from his address. A trooper spotted the suspect walking toward his residence on Mockingbird Avenue where he was quickly taken into custody without incident.

John L. Robinson was transported to Troop 3 where further investigation determined that he had been driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. He was charged with the below-listed violations. He was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution due to his intoxication and arraigned later.