Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel William D. Crotty

Search Warrant in Millsboro Leads to Arrest for Weapon and Drug Offenses

Date Posted: Sunday, October 19th, 2025

Image of John Bender

Delaware State Police arrested 58-year-old John Bender, of Millsboro, Delaware, following a multi-month drug investigation in Sussex County.

Over the past several months, detectives from the Delaware State Police Sussex County Drug Unit conducted an investigation into Bender after receiving information that he was dealing drugs from his residence. During that time, detectives observed evidence of drug dealing activity and obtained a search warrant for his house.

On October 17, 2025, detectives executed the search warrant at the residence in the 32,000 block of South Captains Way in Millsboro. During the search warrant, Bender was detained in the house.

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

22.9 grams of methamphetamine
A digital scale
Drug packaging materials
21 knives defined as deadly weapons
4 pair of brass knuckles

Bender, who is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing deadly weapons, 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 the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $102,200 cash bond.

Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 25 counts
Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited (Felony) – 24 counts
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia