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.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 050521 1500

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Cheswold- Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred early Sunday morning.

On May 2, 2021, at approximately 4:50 a.m., a white Saturn Outlook was traveling westbound on Seven Hickories Road west of Kenton Road. The vehicle approached a moderate right curve in the road when the 42-year-old male pedestrian was standing in the westbound lane. The Saturn struck the pedestrian on the right side with the right front bumper. After being hit, the pedestrian came to rest on the north edge of the roadway. The Saturn pulled over to the right shoulder after the collision for a controlled stop.

The 42-year-old male was from Clayton, DE. He was wearing dark clothing, had no flashlight, reflective clothing, or any safety equipment. He was initially transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital and later transferred to Christiana Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and died on Monday, May 3, 2021. Identification is pending notification to next of kin.

The 34-year-old female operator of the Saturn is from Clayton, DE. She was not injured during the collision.

The roadway was closed for approximately 3.5 hours while the investigation was completed, and the roadway was cleared.

This collision remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information regarding this incident 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.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 050421 1629

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Middletown– Delaware State Police have identified the individual who died in the fatal motorcycle crash on May 1, 2021, as 57-year-old Keith Needam of Newark, DE.

The crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Corporal Desiderio by calling 302-761-6677. 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. 

Delaware State Police Conducting Fatal Motorcycle Crash-Middletown

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 050321 1655

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Dover, Delaware – Wednesday, May 5, 2021, the Delaware State Police will conduct their annual Memorial Service and Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Delaware State Police Training Academy, located at 1441 North DuPont Highway. The service will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Fellow Troopers, family members, relatives, and friends will gather to remember those Troopers who have made the “Ultimate Sacrifice” in service to the State of Delaware.  Twenty Four, (24) Troopers have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1923.

Governor John C. Carney Jr., Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Attorney General Kathy Jennings, Secretary Nathaniel McQueen Jr., Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Colonel Melissa Zebley, Superintendent of  the Delaware State Police, Sergeant Troy Pezzuto, President of the Delaware State Troopers Association, and Mrs. Eleanor Allione, President of Delaware Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) will be in attendance and provide remarks.

This event is open to the media.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 050321 1620

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