Lewes – The Delaware State Police are currently on the scene of a serious crash south of Lewes.

The incident occurred around 1:19 p.m. Monday October 9, 2017 on Coastal Highway (SR1) southbound, south of Dartmouth Drive and involves two vehicles.  Injuries have been reported in the crash, however, the exact number and extent of the injuries is unknown at this time.

The two left lanes of SR1 southbound and the far left lane of SR1 northbound, south of Dartmouth Drive are closed.  Commuters should expect delays in the area and find alternate routes of travel.

Further details will be released upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Please follow the Real Time Travel Advisories through DelDOT to get updates on the road opening by clicking: http://www.deldot.gov/Traffic/travel_advisory/index.shtml#advisories

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 100917 1445

###

New Castle (19720) – The Delaware State Police are investigating the robbery of a New Castle area gas station which occurred late Sunday night.

The incident occurred on Sunday October 8, 2017 at approximately 10:20 p.m. at the Shell Gas Station located at 3001 New Castle Avenue, New Castle DE 19720.

Two male employees of the Shell Station, ages 46 and 24 were exiting the business via a side door after closing for the night, when they were confronted by an unknown suspect who forced them back inside the business. Once back inside, the suspect, who implied that he had a weapon, ordered the victims to give him all the money from the business. After obtaining an unknown amount of money the suspect removed an unknown quantity of cigarettes from the display and also took one victims cellphone.

After obtaining the property the suspect ordered both employees out of the business and in to the parking lot where he had them lay on the ground. The victim’s complied at which time the suspect fled on foot towards the neighborhood of Garfield Park.

Neither victim was injured as a result of the incident.

The suspect was described as a black male, 18-20 years of age, approximately 6 foot tall weighing 150-170 pounds. The suspect was wearing all dark clothing and had a cloth covering his face.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact the Troop 2 Robbery Unit at 302-365-8566. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin

Released: 100917 1342

New Castle- (19720) – Delaware State Police have arrested a 21 year old Wilmington man on weapons charges stemming from a road rage incident.

The incident began on Saturday October 7, 2017 at approximately 4:15 p.m. as a 20 year old New Castle woman was driving southbound on I-495, in the area of Hessler Blvd., with her 17 year old sister as a passenger. As the female operator proceeded southbound at the posted speed limit she observed a red Ford Explorer operated by a white male tailgating her. The operator of the Explorer, later identified as Tyler Nepa, 21 of Wilmington, could be seen waving his arms in an aggressive manner as he continued to follow the female victim’s vehicle at an unsafe distance.

The Explorer then pulled alongside of the victim’s vehicle at which time Nepa pointed a black unknown make and model handgun directly at the two women, before driving off at a high rate of speed. As Nepa drove away the female victim was able to obtain the tag number on the Explorer. No shots were fired and the two women were uninjured.

A subsequent investigation based on information provided by the victim led Troopers to Nepa’s residence where they located the red Explorer along with Nepa, who was taken in to custody without incident. A subsequent search of the Explorer produced a fully loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun which matched the description of the handgun originally given by the victim.

Nepa was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 1 where he was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Menacing, one count of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Nepa was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released after posting $24,500 bond, pending an appearance in the Court of Common Pleas at a future date.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin

Released: 100917 1150

-End-

Milton – The Delaware State Police are releasing the name of the male subject that died during a domestic incident north of Milton on October 5th as John Pinto 3rd.

The incident occurred around 10:23 p.m. Thursday October 5, 2017, after neighbors called 9-1-1 to report that male and female in the 13000 block of Sunland Drive were having a domestic.  Troopers responded to the scene and learned that a John Pinto 3rd, 61, was armed with an unknown type firearm and was threatening to harm his wife who was alone in the house with him.  Troopers established a perimeter around the house and began communicating with John over the phone who then began to make threatening statements toward the first responders.  As troopers were talking with John, gunshots were heard inside the residence and communication was lost.  Shortly after the gunshots, a 9-1-1 call was placed from within the house by a 60-year-old female stating both her and John had been shot.

Entry was made into the house and troopers located the male and female in a bedroom, where the John Pinto was pronounced dead by Sussex County Paramedics.  An autopsy was performed at a later date by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science and determined his death to a homicide by gunshot wounds to the upper torso.

The female was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Beebe Healthcare before being airlifted to Christiana Medical Center where she continues to be listed in critical condition due to gunshot wounds she sustained to her lower torso during the altercation with John.

Homicide Detectives continue to investigate this incident.  Additional information and investigative details will be disseminated as soon as it becomes available and the investigation progresses.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact the Detective J. King at 302-698-8561. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Click to view original release: Detectives Conducting Homicide Investigation North of Milton

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. 

You can follow the Delaware State Police by clicking on:

Facebook

Twitter

Nextdoor

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

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 100917 1145

###

Fenwick Island – The Delaware State Police are releasing the name of the 24-year-old Suffolk, Virginia man that was killed in the Thursday night crash north of Fenwick Island as Austin J. Powell.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.

Click to view original release: State Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash North of Fenwick Island

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 100917 1115

###

South Dover – The Delaware State Police are investigating the robbery of a south Dover hotel that occurred early Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m., Saturday October 7, 2017, as a male subject entered the Best Western Galaxy Inn located at 1700 East Lebanon Road.  The male approached an employee at the counter armed with an unknown type object, possibly an ice pick, and demanded money from the register.  The male clerk complied with the demand and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing out of the hotel in an unknown direction.  The employee was uninjured.

The suspect was described as black male, 5’09”-6’00” tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and a mask covering his face.  He was possibly armed with an ice pick.

No surveillance photos available.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact Troop 3 Major Crimes Unit at 302-697-4454. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 100917 1015

###

Wilmington 19803- Delaware State Police are investigating a robbery of a Wilmington area restaurant which occurred yesterday.

The preliminary investigation revealed at approximately 5:42 p.m. Friday, October 6, 2017 a male suspect entered the Subway Restaurant located at 3614 Concord Pike, Wilmington. The suspect then approached an employee and presented a demand note for cash. After showing the note he then displayed an unknown make and model handgun. The employee complied with the suspect’s demands and turned over an undisclosed amount of money to him. The suspect then exited the restaurant and fled across DE 202 toward Prospect Avenue. There were no injuries.

The suspect was described as a white male with a thin build. No further description available.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact the Robbery Unit at Troop 2 at 302-365-8566. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Released: 100717 1451

-End-

Milford – The Delaware State Police Kent County Drug Unit conclude a two month long investigation into illegal drug sales from residences in Milford.

On Thursday, October 5, 2017, members of the Kent County Drug Unit, with the assistance of the Kent and Sussex County Governor’s Task Force and the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team executed search warrants in the 200 block and 400 block of North Street, Milford. The Milford and the Dover Police Departments also executed search warrants in the 400 block of North Street and the 100 block of Allen Way within the city limits of Milford.

DSP SORT members contacted Carl W. Watson, 46 of Milford and Dion Russ, 26 of Milford; both were taken into custody without incident. A search of the residence in the 200 block of North Street resulted in the recovery of 1.20 grams of crack cocaine where Watson’s three juvenile children were present.

DSP SORT members contacted Dana Legrand, 31 of Milford. He was taken into custody without incident during the execution of the search warrant in the 400 block of North Street. Subjects identified as Cassandra Hurd, 26 of Milford and James Hutchinson, 27 of Milford were also taken into custody after being discovered to be local fugitives and having active capiases out of Kent County and Sussex County Court of Common Pleas. A search of the residence resulted in no illicit narcotics being recovered at the time the search warrant was executed. Legrand was then released from custody and not criminally charged. Hurd and Hutchinson were transported to the Kent County Court of Common Pleas and released upon clearing their capiases.

The following subjects were transported to DSP Troop 3 and charged:

Carl W. Watson was charged with Possession with the Intent to Deliver Crack Cocaine, Conspiracy 2nd Degree, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child relating to the execution of the narcotics search warrant in the 200 block of North Street. Watson was additionally charged with five counts of Delivery of Crack Cocaine and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia for an active arrest warrant stemming from a Troop 3 drug related investigation. Watson was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 2 where he was committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $65,600.00 secured bond. He was also issued a no contact order with his three juvenile children.

Dion Russ, 26 of Milford was charged with Possession with the Intent to Deliver Crack Cocaine, Conspiracy 2nd Degree, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child relating to the execution of the narcotics search warrant in the 200 block of North Street. Russ was additionally charged with Delivery of Crack Cocaine for an active arrest warrant that was already on file out of DSP Troop 3 relating to this investigation and Failing to Re-register as a Sex Offender for an active arrest warrant that was already on file out of the Milford Police Department. Russ was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and was committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $42,400 secured bond. He was also issued a no contact order with the three juvenile children of the North Street residence.

You can follow the Delaware State Police by clicking on:

Delaware State Police Official Website of the First State

Facebook

Twitter

Nextdoor

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

Presented by the Director of Public Information Sergeant Richard D. Bratz

Released: 100717 1241

-End-

Delaware- The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (S.O.A.R) is currently looking for wanted sex offenders after they failed to register as a sex offender as required by law.

Investigators have obtained a warrant for Demond Shockley, 39 of Wilmington. Shockley, a Tier 2 (Moderate Risk) sex offender, is a black male, 5’08” tall, 170 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.  Click or copy and paste the link to view profile and download mug shot: https://sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov/Poster/00001052

Investigators have obtained a warrant for Christopher M. Miller, 28 of Bear.  Miller, a Tier 2 (Moderate Risk) sex offender, is a white male, 6’01” tall, 250 lbs., with black hair and hazel eyes.  Click or copy and paste the link to view profile and download mug shot: https://sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov/Poster/00006795

Investigators have obtained a warrant for Christopher L. Whitaker.  Whitaker, a Tier 2 (Moderate Risk) sex offender, is a black male, 5’11” tall, 195 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.  Click or copy and paste the link to view profile and download mug shot: https://sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov/Poster/00006707

The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit are asking anyone who may know the location of the wanted sex offenders to call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

You can follow the Delaware State Police by clicking on:

Delaware State Police Official Website of the First State

Facebook

Twitter

Nextdoor

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

Presented by the Director of Public Information Sergeant Richard D. Bratz

Released: 100617 1751

-End-

Dover– The following are not wanted.   This is a Homeless Sex Offender Public Notification.  If you have information that any of the listed subjects are occupying a residence, please call 302-672-5306.  Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Presented by the Director of Public Information, Sgt. Richard D. Bratz

Please click on thumbnails to enlarge:

Released: 100617 1701

-End-