Millsboro- Delaware State Police arrested 21-year-old Mardis L. Powell Jr of Ellendale on assault following an incident on Monday night. 

On May 10, 2021, at approximately 10:40 p.m., troopers responded to Hollyville Road for a reported assault. The investigation determined the 17-year-old female victim received a call from her acquaintance, Mardis Powell Jr., who requested she meet him in the parking lot of Carillon Woods Apartments. When the victim responded, Powell became aggressive with her, and a verbal argument ensued before he took her cellphone, threw it on the ground, and then sprayed her in the face with pepper spray. The victim and Powell then engaged in a physical altercation in the parking lot before being separated by another individual in the parking lot. The victim got into her vehicle and began to drive away when Powell kicked the side of her 2011 Hyundai Sonata. As the victim left the scene, Powell followed her to her residence and started yelling at her in the driveway before throwing a radio at the rear window, causing it to shatter. Powell fled the area before police arrived. The victim did not require medical attention.

On May 11, 2021, Powell was located and transported to Troop 4 where he was charged with the following crimes:

• Assault 2nd Degree (Felony)
• Criminal Mischief 

Powell was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $10,100.00 cash bond.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of 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 1800 VICTIM-1. (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the unit Director at debra.reed@state.de.us.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 051221 1155

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Delaware – Delaware State Police is currently seeking applications from individuals interested in accepting the challenge and becoming a Delaware State Trooper. Any individual interested in applying for the current Fall 2021 hiring process is reminded the deadline is quickly approaching.

Applicants need to submit their applications to the 21-TROOPR-001 recruitment drive before 8:00 am Friday, May 14th, 2021, to be considered for the Fall 2021 Academy Class. 

Applications are also currently being accepted for the Spring 2022 Academy Class under the 21-TROOPR-002 recruitment drive.

Applications for both drives can be submitted online via the Delaware State Police website at www.becomeatrooper.com.

Questions concerning the Delaware State Police hiring process or becoming a Delaware State Trooper can be directed to the Delaware State Police Recruitment Office by emailing dsp.recruiting@delaware.gov or telephone 302-739-5980. Information regarding minimum qualifications and the application process can be found on the Delaware State Police website at www.becomeatrooper.com.

Accept the Challenge – Become a Trooper

Delaware State Police is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 051121 1500

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Smyrna- Delaware State Police are conducting a death investigation into the death of an inmate which occurred this morning at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.

Delaware State Police detectives, with the assistance of the Delaware Department of Correction, are investigating the death of an inmate which occurred today, May 10, 2021. The investigation into this incident continues to remain active and ongoing with further details being released as they become available.

The victim will be turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of 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 1800 VICTIM-1. (1800 842-8461).  You may also email the unit Director at debra.reed@delaware.gov. 

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Corporal/1 Jason Hatchell

Released: 051021 1226

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Dover- Delaware State Police seek the public’s assistance with identifying the pictured individual wanted in connection to physically assaulting a female. On March 20, 2021, the incident occurred behind Ollies store, located at 1726 S. Governors Avenue, Dover. Delaware State Police Troop 3 Detectives have attempted to identify the suspect and are reaching out to the public for their assistance in helping to solve this case.

The suspect is described as a black male, brown eyes, thin build, and approximately 6′ tall. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, black hat, and white sneakers. 

Anyone with information regarding the identity of this suspect or information regarding the incident should contact Delaware State Police Detective J. Dear by calling 302-698-8540.  Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com .

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of 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 1800 VICTIM-1. (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the unit Director at debra.reed@state.de.us.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 050721 1140

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The initial release on the Funeral for Delmar Police Corporal Keith Heacook had some incorrect directions on the routes to be traveled.

Please click on the updated link below with the corrected directions in bold.

Media Advisory: Funeral for Delmar Police Corporal Keith Heacook

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 050721 1035

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Date:  Monday May 10, 2021

Location:

Emmanuel Wesleyan Church

217 Beaglin Park Drive

Salisbury, MD 21804.

Media Parking/Staging:  Media parking and staging area will be to the north side of the parking lot near Beaglin Park Drive to the west of Dallas Drive (see attached Google map). Entrance for media vans/trucks/cars into the parking lot will be off Dallas Drive. Please identify yourself to the Law Enforcement personnel and you will be directed to the designated area. The family has requested that no media cameras or recording devices be permitted inside the church.

Timeline:  Corporal Heacook will be escorted from Short Funeral Home in Delmar, Delaware to Emmanuel Wesleyan Church starting at 8:45 a.m. and will travel the following route where there will be temporary road closures:

• Rt 54 eastbound
• Right on US 13 Southbound
• Enter Maryland
• Left on E. Naylor Mill Road
• Right on Zion Road
• Left on Beaglin Park Drive
• Estimated arrival at Emmanuel Wesleyan Church by 9:05 a.m.

Public viewing of Corporal Keith Heacook will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Attendees will be asked to adhere to Covid-19 protocols.

Service will begin around 12:20 p.m. and is expected to last approximately one hour. The Emmanuel Wesleyan Church will provide a Livestream of the service accessible by visiting YouTube, www.youtube.com/ewc. Once the Livestream begins, it will also be available on Cpl. Heacook’s tribute page, which can be accessed at, https://www.shortfh.com/obituaries/Cpl-Keith-Heacook/#!/PhotosVideos. Viewing of the service will also be broadcast on a digital billboard vehicle outside the church.

Road Closures:

• Beaglin Park Drive between Old Ocean City Road (Rt 346) and Ocean Gateway (US 50 Business) will be closed starting at 4:00 a.m.

There will be Electronic Sign Boards on Old Ocean City Road and Ocean Gateway alerting the general public of the funeral. Troopers, Deputies, and Police Officers will be at various intersections directing traffic into the venue.

At the conclusion of the funeral, there will be an escort of Corporal Heacook back to Short Funeral Home in Delmar, DE.

• Northbound on Beaglin Park Drive
• Right on Zion Road
• Left on E Naylor Mill Road
• Right on US 13 Northbound
• Enter Delaware
• Left on Rt 54
• Right on N. Pennsylvania Avenue to Short Funeral Home

The interment will be private.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 050721 0900

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Millville, DE- Delaware State Police arrested 41-year-old William L. Mitchell of Millsboro, and charges are pending for a 26-year-old male of Bethany Beach after an incident at Hooked Up Ale House on Saturday night.

On May 1, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m., troopers were dispatched to Hooked Up Ale House located at 38069 Town Center Road for a disorderly individual. Upon arrival to the scene, troopers observed the 26-year-old male unconscious in the parking lot being treated by medical personnel. Through the investigation, troopers discovered the 26-year-old male was a patron inside the establishment when management observed him acting disorderly, and he appeared to be highly intoxicated. When asked to leave and while being escorted out of the restaurant, the male began yelling obscenities. Once outside, he continued to yell obscenities, make inappropriate sexual gestures, and pulled down his pants, exposing his genitals. At that time, William L. Mitchell, an employee of Hooked Up, approached the male and punched him once in the upper body, knocking him to the ground. The male was transported by ambulance to an area hospital and then transferred to Christiana Hospital in serious condition.

On May 5, 2021, Mitchell turned himself into Delaware State Police Troop 4, where he was charged with Assault Second Degree (Felony). He was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and released on a $4,000.00 unsecured bond.

Active warrants are on file at Delaware State Police Troop 4 for the 26-year-old male for Indecent Exposure Second Degree and Disorderly Conduct.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 050521 1642

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Cheswold– Delaware State Police have identified the pedestrian killed in a fatal motor vehicle crash on Sunday, May 3, 2021, on Seven Hickories Road as 42-year-old Erick S. Dunfee of Clayton, DE.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information regarding this collision should contact Cpl/3 Joe Lane by calling 302- 698-8457. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com .

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of 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 1800 VICTIM-1. (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the unit Director at debra.reed@state.de.us.

You can follow the Delaware State Police by clicking on:

Delaware State Police Official Web Site

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Nextdoor

Please tell us how we’re doing via our Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 050521 1500

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