Last night, the Delaware State Police arrested 46-year-old Charles Riddick of Norristown, Pennsylvania on gun and drug charges after he was stopped in Laurel for an expired registration.

On August 20, 2023, at approximately 10:03 p.m., a trooper on patrol observed a black Volvo sedan traveling northbound on Sussex Highway just south of Gordy Road. The car’s registration had expired in October 2021, and the trooper stopped the Volvo on Sussex Highway. The trooper spoke with the driver and registered owner, identified as Charles Riddick, and discovered that Riddick had a suspended driver’s license.

The trooper searched the car prior to it being towed from the scene. During the search, the trooper found a loaded handgun, a set of brass knuckles, approximately .15 grams of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.

Riddick, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, was arrested and taken to Troop 5, where he was charged with the following crimes:

• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
• Possession of a Firearm While Possessing a Controlled Substance (Felony)
• Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Felony)
• Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 2 counts
• Traffic offenses

Riddick was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $31,275 cash bond.

On Friday, the Delaware State Police arrested 52-year-old Joseph Nygard of Wilmington, Delaware after he was found to be driving a stolen car while under the influence earlier this month.

On the morning of August 13, 2023, troopers responded to Somerset Road in Rehoboth Beach after a homeowner realized that his Toyota Corolla had been stolen overnight. Later, the victim found out that his Corolla had been towed to a local tow yard earlier that day after the driver, identified as Joseph Nygard, had been arrested for DUI.

Troopers discovered that Nygard had stolen the car and been charged with DUI before the car had been reported stolen. Nygard was released after being charged with DUI and had since returned to Wilmington.

On August 18, Nygard turned himself in to Troop 1 in Wilmington, where he was charged with the following crimes:

• Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
• Theft Under $1,500 Where the Victim is 62 Years of Age or Older (Felony)
• Theft Under $1,500
• Criminal Trespass Second Degree

Nygard was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance.

Delaware State Police have identified 17-year-old Aaizeem Korden-Brown, of New Castle, as the victim of the homicide on August 20, 2023, in New Castle.

The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling 302-741-2729. 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.

Delaware State Police are investigating a shooting that occurred early this morning in Dagsboro, Delaware. There were no reported injuries or damage to any properties.

On August 20, 2023, at approximately 12:30 a.m., troopers were called to a residence at the 28000 block of East Diamond Street for a reported shooting. When troopers arrived, they learned that a birthday gathering of about 200 people had occurred. A group of uninvited guests showed up and began to party on the street close to the house. Shortly afterward, a confrontation broke out among several individuals, resulting in gunshots being fired. Before the police arrived, the crowd and the unknown suspect had already fled the scene. 

Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective K. Perry by calling (302) 752-3800. 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.

Delaware State Police are investigating a homicide that occurred during an unsanctioned car meet early this morning.

On August 20, 2023, at approximately 2:00 a.m., troopers responded to a reported shooting at the Delaware Logistics Center located at 2421 Bear Corbitt Road in New Castle, Delaware. When troopers arrived, they found a 17-year-old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died. The teenager’s name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified. A second victim, a 21-year-old male, was later discovered to have been transported to a nearby hospital for a gunshot wound to his foot. He is currently in stable condition. Both victims are from New Castle, Delaware.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a large crowd gathered for a car meet. At some point during the event, the two victims were involved in a confrontation where numerous shots were fired. After the shooting, the crowd dispersed, and the unknown suspects fled in an unknown direction.

The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling 302-741-2729. 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 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.

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, please call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

Yesterday morning troopers arrested Justin Kranz, 27, of New Castle, Delaware for committing an armed robbery at the Darley Pharmacy in Claymont.

On August 17, 2023, at approximately 5:11 a.m., troopers responded to the Darley Pharmacy located at 111 Darley Road in Claymont for a report of a robbery. Troopers arrived and learned that a white male suspect had just fled from the store after he pointed a rifle at the cashier and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect exited the store with cash and a bottle of soda. The suspect had his face concealed with a t-shirt, but the cashier was familiar with him and provided a description to troopers. At approximately 8:55 a.m., troopers found the suspect, identified as Justin Kranz, walking on Philadelphia Pike, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Kranz was taken to Troop 2 and charged with the following crimes:

• Robbery First Degree (Felony)
• Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)

Kranz was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $66,000 cash bond.

Last night, the Delaware State Police arrested a man who was found to be in possession of drugs and several weapons, including a concealed handgun.

On August 16, 2023, at approximately 10:00 p.m., a trooper assigned to the Governor’s Task Force saw a bicyclist merge onto northbound N. Dupont Highway from White Oak Road in Dover without using a hand signal. The trooper stopped the man, identified as 35-year-old Andrew Sheppard of Dover, Delaware, and discovered that he had brass knuckles and several knives in his possession. The trooper also saw a bag of crystal methamphetamine that fell out of Sheppard’s pocket.

Troopers searched Sheppard’s backpack and found a semiautomatic handgun, approximately 5.78 grams of crystal methamphetamine, and a meth pipe. Sheppard is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.

Sheppard was taken to Troop 3 and charged with the following crimes:

• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
• Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Felony)
• Possession of a Firearm While Possessing a Controlled Substance (Felony)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 1 Quantity (Felony)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Failure to Give Hand and Arm Signal

Sheppard was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $15,101 secured bond.

The Delaware State Police are investigating a single-vehicle moped crash that occurred yesterday afternoon that left one woman dead.

On August 15, 2023, at approximately 2:23 p.m., a red 2022 Jiangsu moped was traveling north on Hebron Road approaching a sharp left curve just north of Canal Crossing Road. For unknown reasons, the moped driver failed to negotiate the curve, and her scooter exited the right side of the roadway and struck the curb.

The driver, 49-year-old Darla Becker of Wilmington, Delaware, fell off the moped and landed on the curb. She was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where she later died. There were no other vehicles involved in this collision.

The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Sergeant J. Burns by calling 302-703-3269. 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 you 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.