Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel William Crotty

Detectives Arrest Pair for Gun and Drug Offenses Following Search Warrant at Milton Residence

Date Posted: Friday, April 26th, 2024

Guns and drugs

The Delaware State Police arrested 52-year-old Randolph Gooner, and 47-year-old Carey Rust, both of Milton, Delaware, for several felony gun and drug offenses stemming from a search warrant at a residence in Milton earlier this month.

On April 12, 2024, at approximately 6:00 a.m., members of the Sussex County Governor’s Task Force, Sussex County Drug Unit, and Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team executed a search warrant at a residence on the 22800 block of Reynolds Pond Road in Milton. The search warrant was obtained following a drug investigation of Randolph Gooner, who was suspected of the large-scale distribution of narcotics. Upon arriving at the residence, detectives found Gooner in the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Silverado parked in the driveway. Gooner disregarded verbal commands by troopers to get out of the SUV, and physically resisted as troopers attempted to remove him from the vehicle. After a brief struggle, Gooner was taken into custody, and a search of his person led to the discovery of a loaded handgun, and two oxycodone hydrocholoride pills. Detectives then proceeded to search the home.

A search of the home led to the discovery of the following items:

14 shotguns
6 rifles
4 handguns
Approximately 30.28 grams of cocaine
Approximately 51.66 grams of methamphetamine
Approximately 8.48 grams of psychedelic mushrooms
Various amounts of alprazolam, amphetamine, buprenorphine, clonazepam, homatropine methylbromide hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol pills, for which Gooner was unable to produce a prescription
Various paraphernalia to include digital scales and distribution/packaging materials

Following the search of the home, troopers conducted a K9 scan on the Chevrolet Silverado, and a Toyota Tacoma parked on the property. Troopers discovered the Tacoma belonged to Gooner’s significant other, Carey Rust. Troopers searched both vehicles after the K9 scan positively alerted to the presence of narcotics located within the vehicles. A search of the Silverado led to the discovery of a rifle that was concealed in the trunk. A search of the Tacoma led to the discovery of five amphetamine and dextroamphetamine pills. As a result of the drugs found in the Tacoma, troopers obtained a warrant for Rust’s arrest.

Randolph Gooner was taken to Troop 4, where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $453,950 cash bond.

Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 18 counts
Possess with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance Tier 3 Quantity (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 3 Quantity (Felony) – 2 counts
Possess with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Felony)
Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Person Prohibited who also Possesses Controlled Substance (Felony) – 9 counts
Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)
Resisting Arrest
Possess a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance except Human Growth Hormone without a Prescription – 3 counts
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 4 counts

On April 23, 2024, Carey Rust turned herself in at Troop 4, where she was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on a $2,000 unsecured bond.

Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)
Possess a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance except Human Growth Hormone without a Prescription
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia