The Delaware State Police have identified 24-year-old Kristopher Battles of Bear, Delaware as the man who died in a fatal collision that occurred in Middletown on August 8, 2023.

The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Corporal D. Franck by calling 302-660-3783. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

The Delaware State Police Community Outreach Unit’s annual program to assist elementary school-aged children in need with the necessities for school is back! Troopers are asking for help with donations to fill each child’s backpack with school supplies.

Operation Troopers Have Your BACKpack works with local communities and organizations to collect and donate school supplies for children in need. Donations can be taken to any Troop or Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union locations by anyone wishing to help. Each location will have a box for supplies to be dropped off. The donations will be collected now until August 21, 2023, and will be distributed at the start of the school year. The supplies needed for the students are:

Delaware State Police is thankful for the generosity from the public with this program in the past years. Please help us give the students these essential supplies for another successful school year!

In 1923, the basic infrastructure of the Delaware State Police was formulated. Troop 4, known at the time as “Station 4,” was a small wooden building located on Dupont Highway, north of Georgetown.

Between 1937 and 1938, two new state police facilities were constructed in Sussex County. The old wood frame building which had served as Station 4 was replaced with a brick building designed to accommodate the growing force and its fleet of patrol cars and motorcycles.

Due to an increase in the number of petty thefts occurring in the southern portion of the state and the increasing demand for night service, Station 4 in Georgetown began operating on a 24-hour basis in 1930. The “special night patrols” were successful in reducing the number of reported poultry and grain thefts occurring in southern Delaware. During this time, Station 4 was home to one sergeant and five privates.

In 1943, seven female civilian employees were hired for the first time to assist with clerical duties to help ease the staffing shortages resulting from World War II. These female employees proved invaluable to the operation of the department and provided the impetus for the establishment of the full-time civilian work force which now exists. Eight years later, on June 15, 1951, Miss Constance “Connie” Dick was hired as a secretary with Delaware State Police. Miss Connie remains a staple of Troop 4, and in June 2023 celebrated 72 years of dedicated service. Miss Connie has served under 30 troop commanders and her contributions are immeasurable.

In 1947, Colonel Herbert Barnes came up with the idea of a summer camp for Delaware youth. In March 1948, the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police leased a 12-acre parcel of land in Frankford and on June 14th, 1948, the first campers arrived at Camp Barnes. Celebrating 75 years of service in 2023, Camp Barnes provided 562 Delaware youth an opportunity to develop confidence, leadership, and positive relationships through teamwork.

On May 27, 1957, the Delaware State Police opened its first sub-station, designated Troop 4A, located on Delaware Route 1, north of Dewey Beach. This substation was initially manned during the summer to compensate for increased traffic and to receive complaints of criminal activity in the resort area. In 1969, Troop 4A was renamed Troop 7. In 1983 a new Troop 7 was opened and the criminal investigative function for Sussex County was consolidated at Troop 4 in Georgetown. Uniformed traffic patrols from Troop 4 were ended until the opening of the current Troop 4 in the 1990s.

Troop 4 is currently home to approximately 90 sworn personnel. Troop 4 serves the citizen of Sussex County through patrol operations and criminal investigations including but not limited to Major Crimes, Property Crimes, Financial Crimes, Evidence Detection, Youth Aid, School Resource Officers, and more.

“Troop 4 has the distinct privilege of serving the citizens of Delaware from New Castle to Sussex County,” says Captain Christy Ballinger, Commander of Troop 4. “From patrol operations to criminal investigations and Camp Barnes service, the women and men of Troop 4 are embodying the core values of this agency day in and day out. Their commitment to service is unmatched and it is with gratitude and pride, I serve as the Troop 4 Commander.”

(Click to enlarge the above and below images)

The Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal collision that occurred Tuesday evening in Middletown that left one man dead.

On August 8, 2023, at approximately 10:53 p.m., a red 2017 Mazda CX-5 was stopped in the left turn lane on northbound Summit Bridge Road at the intersection with Armstrong Corner Road. A blue 2003 Harley Davidson FLS was passing traffic at a high rate of speed on the right shoulder of southbound Summit Bridge Road, approaching the intersection with Armstrong Corner Road. With a flashing red arrow, the Mazda proceeded through the intersection, turning left towards westbound Armstrong Corner Road. The Harley Davidson continued traveling southbound on Summit Bridge Road and entered the intersection from the right turn lane, striking the right side of the Mazda. The Harley Davidson’s operator, a 24-year-old man from Bear, Delaware, was ejected from the motorcycle and came to a rest under the Mazda.

The Harley Davidson’s operator was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified.

The Mazda’s operator, a 17-year-old man from Middletown, Delaware, was transported to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Corporal D. Franck by calling 302-660-3783. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

The Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run collision that occurred yesterday afternoon in Camden that left one child dead.

On August 8, 2023, at approximately 4:04 p.m., a white 2014 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound on S. State Street approaching the intersection at Sorghum Mill Road. At the same time, a three-year-old boy was running across S. State Street from the west side of the road (near the Valero gas station) to the east (towards Allen Frear Elementary School). The front of the Silverado struck the child in the northbound lane of S. State Street, causing the boy to fall to the ground. The Silverado did not stop and the driver fled from the scene of the collision.

The three-year-old boy was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where he later died. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified.

The driver of the Silverado, an 18-year-old man from Smyrna, Delaware, was contacted by patrol troopers and detectives in Smyrna. The collision remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.

No other vehicles were involved in this incident. The intersection was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and the roadway was cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Master Corporal J. Lane by calling 302-698-8457. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

The Delaware State Police arrested 37-year-old Kevin Jasovsky of Bel Air, Maryland for DUI and assaulting police officers after a crash that occurred yesterday in Milton.

On August 7, 2023, at approximately 9:27 p.m., a trooper on patrol came across a black Nissan Pathfinder that had just struck a construction barrier next to the left lane of Coastal Highway south of Broadkill Road. The Nissan had also struck a fully marked Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA) Police Department Chevrolet Tahoe, and the police officer that had been driving the Tahoe was trying to contact the driver of the Nissan. The trooper also tried to contact the driver, but he refused to get out of the Pathfinder and tried to drive away. Both the trooper and the DRBA officer were able to get the driver out of the vehicle and take him to the ground. Once on the ground, the driver physically resisted arrest and injured both the officer and the trooper.

The driver, identified as Kevin Jasovsky, was taken into custody after a brief struggle. The trooper smelled alcohol coming from Jasovsky, who displayed signs of impairment. Both the trooper and Jasovsky were taken to an area hospital for treatment, and both were released later in the evening.

While Jasovsky was at the hospital he was charged with the following crimes:

• Assault Second Degree of a Law Enforcement Officer (Felony)
• Offensive Touching of a Law Enforcement Officer
• Resisting Arrest
• Driving Under the Influence
• Traffic offenses

Jasovsky was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $12,325 cash bond.

The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (S.O.A.R.) is currently looking for the following wanted sex offenders after they either failed to register or re-register at their current address. If anyone knows the location of these individuals, they are asked to call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

The following people are not wanted. This is a Homeless Sex Offender Public Notification. If you have information that the listed people are occupying a residence, please call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance with their investigation of a hit-and-run collision that occurred in Wilmington on July 2, 2023, that left one man critically injured.

On July 2, 2023, at approximately 1:19 a.m., a 43-year-old Newark man, was walking along the double yellow line for N. Market Street between E. 39th Street and E. 40th Street. An unknown white Nissan sedan was traveling northbound and struck the victim. The victim came to a rest in the southbound lane of N. Market Street and the Nissan continued northbound without stopping. The victim was transported to an area trauma hospital where he remains in critical condition.

The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed this collision or has information about the fleeing vehicle (pictured above) to please contact Sergeant J. Jefferson by calling 302-365-8484. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

Yesterday the Delaware State Police arrested 20-year-old Damien Bozman of Seaford, Delaware on numerous charges following an investigation into a series of thefts and burglaries that occurred last month.

Early in the morning on July 13, 2023, troopers responded to several residences on Chipmans Chase Drive and Fire Tower Road in Laurel regarding thefts from cars and garage burglaries that took place overnight. Troopers learned that two suspects trespassed onto six different properties and stole belongings from eight different victims, including a wallet, several debit and credit cards, a BB gun, video cameras, and a bicycle. Detectives from the Troop 4 Property Crimes Unit assumed the investigation and identified Ryan Howell as one of the suspects who committed the thefts and burglaries.

On July 25, Howell was arrested and charged for these thefts. On August 2, detectives identified Damien Bozman as the second suspect. Bozman, who was already in the custody of the Department of Corrections at the Sussex County Violation of Probation Center, was subsequently charged with the following crimes:

• Burglary Third Degree (Felony) – 2 counts
• Attempted Theft Under $1,500 Where the Victim is 62 Years of Age or Older (Felony)
• Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony) – 2 counts
• Conspiracy Third Degree – 3 counts
• Theft Under $1,500 – 5 counts
• Criminal Mischief – 2 counts
• Criminal Trespass Third Degree – 3 counts

Bozman was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance. He remains in the custody of the Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.