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Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley


New Castle Man Arrested for Carjacking at Convenience Store- New Castle


Date Posted: Monday, January 31st, 2022

Brandon

New Castle, DE- Delaware State Police arrested Brandon Gardner, 18, of New Castlefor a carjacking that occurred early Sunday morning at a New Castle convenience store.

On January 30, 2022, at approximately 6:39 a.m., a 70-year-old male parked his 2008 Honda Civic at the air pump at Wawa located at 1515 N. DuPont Hwy. The male was pumping air into his tires when two unknown individuals approached his vehicle from the nearby bus stop. As the victim was kneeling, one of the suspects entered the driver’s compartment as the other stood on the passenger side of the Honda. The victim tried to physically remove the suspect from the car as the suspect placed the vehicle in reverse and drove off. For fear of being physically harmed, the victim exited his vehicle. Two individuals at Wawa witnessed the incident, and both followed the stolen vehicle through the Wawa parking lot, around the rear of the complex, and onto Bacon Avenue. The suspect then crashed the Honda into a fence on a residential property located in the 100 block of Bacon Ave. As the suspect crashed, the two witnesses blocked the sides of the car so it could no longer move. The suspect climbed out the vehicle window and fled the scene on foot as the witnesses provided police with the suspects’ description. Approximately 30 minutes after the collision, officers observed a subject matching the suspects’ description near the bus stop in front of the Fairfield Inn and Suites, approximately one mile north of Wawa. When the suspect observed the officer, he crossed over US13 and began walking northbound on US13 in front of Gracelawn Memorial Cemetery. When troopers exited their marked police cars, the suspect fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood. He was eventually apprehended and taken into custody without incident. At that time, he was identified as Brandon Gardner. Gardner was treated by Christiana EMS for minor cuts sustained after climbing over a barbed-wire fence. The victim was not injured during the incident. Gardner was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 2, where he was charged with the following crimes:

  •  Robbery First Degree (Felony)
  • Criminal Mischief Over $1,000
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Criminal Mischief Under $1,000
  • Driving Without a Valid License
  • Failed to Remain Within a Single Lane
  • Careless Driving
  • Improper Backing

Gardner was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on an $11,000.00 cash bond.

The other male with Gardner has not been identified at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Det. Ryan Kirchenbauer with Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit by calling 302-365-8525. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppers.com.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline 1800 VICTIM-1. (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 013122 1254

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