Bridgeville – The Delaware State Police have arrested 31 year-old Laval Farmer of Bridgeville, on felony drug and related charges after a pursuit. Troopers are also seeking the public’s assistance in attempting to locate 18 year-old Damaj Showell of Bridgeville, DE after fleeing from the same vehicle during the pursuit.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 30,2020 at approximately 11:09 a.m. on the 21000 block of Mill Park Dr., Bridgeville. Sussex Governor’s Task Force (GTF) officers observed Showell who has outstanding warrants in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. The troopers were also able to identify the operator of the vehicle and confirm he too had outstanding warrants through the Sussex County Family Court. Troopers followed the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on King Road in the area of Dove Road. Farmer appeared to comply. He initially slowed his vehicle and began to move to the right side of the roadway. Farmer then accelerated and fled back to the area of Mill Park Drive. GTF Units pursued the suspects down a dirt lane on Mill Park Drive, Bridgeville. As the vehicle was in motion, Detectives observed Showell jumping out of the moving vehicle and into the woods. Farmer then fled from the stopped vehicle and into the woods.
GTF searched the woods with the assistance of DSP Aviation and Troop 5 patrol. The operator, Laval Farmer, was apprehended without further incident. The passenger, Damaj Showell was not located.
GTF detectives located approximately 5.44 grams of crack cocaine inside of the suspect’s vehicle.
Laval Farmer was transported back to Troop 4 where he was charged with the following:
- Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance Tier 1 (Felony)
- Disregard a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
- Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
- Resisting Arrest
- Related Traffic Charges
Farmer was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $28,000 cash bond.
Damaj Showell has an active warrant out of Troop 4 for the following:
- Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance Tier 1 (Felony)
- Disregard a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
- Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
- Resisting Arrest
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Showell is asked to contact Det. Tovar-Quintero out of Troop 4 at 302-752-3796 or by calling 911. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com
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Presented by Public Information Officer, Corporal/1 Jason Hatchell
Released: 070120 1520