Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel William Crotty

Sussex County Governor’s Task Force Arrest Man for Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop

Date Posted: Saturday, January 27th, 2024

News Release

Delaware State Police arrested 42-year-old Edsel Wootten, III of Laurel, Delaware, for felony drug charges following a traffic stop in Laurel on Thursday night.

On January 25, 2024, at approximately 10:50 p.m., members of the Sussex County Governor’s Task Force, along with Delaware Probation and Parole officers, were patrolling the area of West Street in Laurel. While on patrol, they observed a blue Ford Focus fail to signal when turning into First Stop gas station, located at 114 West Street. Detectives initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the occupants, one of whom was identified as probationer Edsel Wootten, III. During the investigation, detectives and probation officers observed a bundle of suspected heroin in plain view in Wootten’s pocket. Detectives took him into custody without incident and discovered the following during the search of Wootten’s person and property:

Approximately 23.20 grams of methamphetamines
Approximately 5.67 grams of crack cocaine
Approximately 18.86 grams of cocaine
Approximately 1.764 grams of heroin
4 Naloxone sublingual films
Digital scale
$344 in suspected drug proceeds

Wootten was transported to Troop 4, where he was charged with the below crimes, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $18,300 cash bond.

Edsel Wootten

Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 1 (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription (Felony)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 5 counts