Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Detectives Arrest Two Teens After Pursuit in Stolen Kia

Date Posted: Thursday, September 14th, 2023

News Release text with State Police vehicle in the background

Delaware State Police arrested a 15-year-old male of Newark, Delaware, and a 16-year-old male of Bear, Delaware, after leading troopers on a pursuit in a stolen Kia Wednesday night in Wilmington.

On September 13, 2023, at approximately 8:26 p.m., members of the New Castle County Governor’s Task Force observed a black Kia Sorento fail to stop at a red light while it was traveling northbound on Governor Printz Boulevard in the area of 30th Street in Wilmington. A computer inquiry of the Kia’s registration revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen within the jurisdiction of New Castle County Police Department on September 12, 2023. The Kia came to a stop for a red light at the intersection of Governor Printz Boulevard and Edgemoor Road, at which point detectives attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Once the emergency lights were activated, the suspect backed the Kia into the front of a DSP divisional vehicle. The suspect then drove forward, and almost struck another trooper as the Kia fled northbound on Governor Printz Boulevard. In the ensuing pursuit, the suspect continued to drive in a reckless manner, until the Kia was ultimately forced to a stop on Governor Printz Boulevard in the area of E. Delaware Avenue. The driver of the Kia, identified as a 15-year-old male, was taken into custody without incident. The front passenger, a 16-year-old male, initially refused verbal commands, but was ultimately taken into custody without further incident.

Further investigation revealed, the 15-year-old male was an escapee from the New Castle County Detention Center and the 16-year-old male was reported as a runaway juvenile. The juveniles were taken to Troop 2, where they were charged with the following crimes:

15-year-old male:

Attempted Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)
Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 (Felony)
Resisting Arrest
Reckless Driving
Unreasonable Speed
Failure to Stop at Red Light
Improper Backing
Failure to Use Turn Signal

The 15-year-old juvenile was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on a $15,500 cash bond.

16-year-old juvenile