Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel William D. Crotty

Detectives Arrest Man for Strong-Arm Robbery in Newark

Date Posted: Saturday, July 26th, 2025

The Delaware State Police arrested 30-year-old Erik Yancey of New Castle, Delaware, for a strong-arm robbery that occurred in Newark on Wednesday night.

On July 24, 2025, at approximately 12:09 a.m., troopers responded to a report of a robbery that occurred a short time earlier in the parking lot of Moon Spa, located at 1919 Capitol Trail in Newark. The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was entering his vehicle in the parking lot when he was approached by an unknown black male suspect. The suspect opened the driver’s door, and demanded the victim’s property while holding his hand wrapped in a cloth, implying a firearm. The suspect threatened to shoot the victim, and punched him. The suspect then stole the victim’s personal property, and fled on foot behind the business. The victim then drove to a nearby business, where an employee called 9-1-1. The victim sustained minor injuries.

Through investigative means, troopers identified the suspect involved in the robbery as Erik Yancey. Detectives further discovered Yancey had used the victim’s credit card in Wilmington. On July 25, 2025, detectives located Yancey in Wilmington, and took him into custody.

Yancey was taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $51,000 cash bond.