Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

State Police Arrest Man for Shoplifting Turned Robbery at Newark Area Shoprite

Date Posted: Saturday, May 4th, 2024

Delaware State Police arrested 22-year-old Lewis Flowers of Newark, Delaware, for a shoplifting turned robbery that occurred yesterday afternoon at a Shoprite in Newark.

On May 3, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., troopers responded to a shoplifting turned robbery at the Shoprite located at 19 Chestnut Hill Plaza in Newark. The investigation revealed a Shoprite employee confronted the suspect, later identified as Lewis Flowers, after he observed Flowers conceal food in a bag and exit the grocery store without paying for the items. During the confrontation, the employee grabbed the bag from Flowers, and began walking back into the grocery store. Flowers attempted to take the bag back from the employee, which led to a physical altercation between the two. Flowers was ultimately taken into custody by troopers without incident. The Shoprite employee was treated at a local urgent care facility for minor injuries sustained during the altercation.

Flowers was taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with the crime listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $20,000 cash bond.