Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Magnolia – The Delaware State Police are investigating the attempted robbery of a female’s purse while she was shopping in a store.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m., Tuesday August 15, 2017, as a female customer was shopping at the Dollar General, located at 56 West Birdie Lane.  A male subject, who had already been reported acting suspiciously in the store, approached the female victim’s shopping cart and put his hand on her purse.  The female then covered her purse with both hands and screamed that she was being robbed.  The suspect then removed his hand from the purse and began running out of the store.  As he was fleeing, he threw box of detergent at a male employee who was trying to block his escape.  The suspect exited the store and continued running in a southerly direction.  The victim and employee were not injured.

The suspect was described as white male, 25-35 years of age, 5’06”-5’08” tall, 150-170 lbs.  He was last seen wearing grey shorts, white T-shirt, and blue baseball hat. (No further physical or clothing description).  No weapon was displayed.

Surveillance photo attached.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact Detective D. Blomquist at 302-698-8426. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Released: 090517 1150

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Presented by the Director of Public Information Sergeant Richard Bratz

Newark – Delaware State Police are currently investigating the strong arm robbery of a Newark area pharmacy that occurred yesterday afternoon.

The initial investigation has determined the incident occurred on Monday, September 04, 2017, as a male suspect entered the Rite Aid located at 400 Peoples Plaza, Newark. As the clerk was checking customers out the suspect approached the register to make a purchase. During the transaction the suspect reached over the counter and grabbed an undisclosed amount of money from the register. The clerk attempted to pull the suspect away from the register and sustained minor injury. Suspect was last scene fleeing on foot into the parking lot of Peoples Plaza.

The suspect is described as a thin black male, approximately 5’06” tall between 40-50 years old, wearing dark clothing.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact the Robbery Unit at Troop 2, Glasgow, at 302-365-8566. 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.

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Released: 090517 1141

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

Middletown- Delaware State Police are investigating a school threat that was called into the Middletown Police Department this morning.

The incident occurred around 9:16 a.m. Tuesday, September 5, 2017, when a phone call was received at the Middletown Police Department that a bomb was at the Appoquinimink High School located at 1080 Bunker Hill Road, Middletown. The caller stated that there was a bomb in the school and that it would blow if it was not located. Students and staff were evacuated from the school as troopers and K9 units immediately responded and conducted a search. Nothing of a suspicious nature was located and students were allowed to return to the school at approximately 10:20 a.m. to resume normal activities.

This incident remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police at this time. If anyone has any information in reference to this  incident, they are asked to contact Troop 2 Youth Aid Division at 302-834-2620. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Released: 090517 1051

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

South Dover – The Delaware State Police are investigating the robbery of a south Dover store that occurred late Monday afternoon.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:49 p.m., Monday September 4, 2017, as a male subject entered the Dollar General, located at 250 Gateway South Boulevard. The male approached the counter where he asked for a pack of cigarettes and paid for the purchase.  As the cash register was open, the suspect reached over the counter and began pulling money from the till.  The employee tried to stop the suspect, but he grabbed her arm and then removed an undisclosed amount of cash with his other hand before fleeing out of the store in an unknown direction.  The clerk was not injured.

The suspect was described as white male, 5’05”-5’08” tall, short black hair with a goatee.  He was last seen wearing black shorts, white T-shirt, black baseball hat, and black sunglasses (No further physical or clothing description).  No weapon was displayed.

No surveillance photos available.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact Detective T. Ford at 302-698-8569. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Released: 090517 1045

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

Newark – The Delaware State Police are currently investigating the robbery of a Newark area 7-11 store that occurred Sunday night.

The initial investigation has determined the incident occurred on Sunday, September 3, 2017, at approximately 8:58 p.m., as a male suspect entered the 7-11 located at 699 East Chestnut Hill Road, Newark. The suspect approached the sales counter armed with a knife and confronted the male clerk. The suspect demanded money from the cash registers. The clerk complied with the suspect’s demands and turned over an undisclosed amount of money to him. The suspect then exited the store and fled in an unknown direction. There were no injuries.

The suspect was described as a white male approximately 5’10” to 6’00” tall, weighed 150-170 lbs., wearing dark clothing armed with a knife. (no further physical or clothing 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.

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

Released: 090417 2151

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Bridgeville– The Delaware State Police have arrested a Bridgeville woman with her 5th offense DUI after she drove her vehicle off the road.

The incident occurred around 8:09 p.m. Sunday September 3, 2017 as Carol D. Russ, 51 of Bridgeville, was operating a 1996 Chevrolet Sport Van eastbound on Seashore Highway (SR404) west of Ritchie Lane when she drove off the south side of the road and continued eastbound until she struck a cement culvert and came to a stop.  Russ was uninjured in the collision and upon the troopers arrival, a DUI investigation ensued.

Carol Russ was transported back to Troop 5 where a computer check revealed she had four previous DUI convictions and this would make her fifth.  She was charged with 5th Offense Driving Under and Combination of Alcohol and Any Drug, Driving While Suspended or Revoked, and Failure to Remain within a Single Lane.  Russ was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $5,550.00 secured bond.

Released: 090417 1020

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Smyrna – Troopers are seeking the public’s assistance in attempting to identify suspects that burglarized a local building.

This incident occurred around 12:26 a.m. Friday August 25, 2017 when troopers responded to a burglary alarm at Harris Manufacturing, located at 655 West Glenwood Avenue.  The investigation revealed the suspects gained entry into the building by shattering a window, although nothing appeared to have been stolen.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident or the identity of these individuals depicted in the surveillance photos, they are asked to contact Detective P. Campbell at 302-698-8504. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Released: 090317 0745

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

New Castle – State Troopers have arrested three people after they were caught breaking into multiple storage units.

The investigation began Thursday August 31, 2017 around 1:40 a.m. when a 9-1-1 call was placed from the on-site facility manger of Public Storage, located at 425 Churchmans Road, to report drilling a banging coming from inside the area.  Troopers and officers from New Castle City Police Department responded to the compound and noticed a fence had been cut.  Entry into the facility was made through the hole by the responding agencies and upon approaching “C” building, observed three subjects running away.  Officers and troopers gave chase and took all three subjects into custody without incident.  Further investigation revealed the three had utilized cutting tools to break the locks off 16 storage units and placed items, such as televisions and stereo equipment, outside the units to remove later.

Damere P. Minter, 22 of Wilmington, Vaughn King, 24 of Wilmington, and a 16-year-old male from New Castle, were all transported back to Troop 2 where they were charged with 16 counts of Burglary 3rd, Possession of Burglary Tools, Conspiracy 2nd, Criminal Mischief, and Criminal Trespass 2nd.  Vaughn King was additionally charged with Aggravated Menacing as he began running at a trooper with a crowbar above his head before putting the item down and surrendering.  The three were arraigned at JP2 and all released on unsecured bonds.

Released: 090317 0715

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Leipsic – A Smyrna man was arrested by troopers after he fired his shotgun into the air to break up a verbal dispute.

Leonard H. Voss Jr., 61 of Smyrna, was arrested Monday August 28, 2017 for Possession of a Firearm During a Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, Terroristic Threatening, and Reckless Endangering 2^nd.  This stemmed from an incident that occurred the same day around 12:25 p.m. in the parking lot of Careys Diesel located at 168 E. Denny St., Leipsic, when he fired a single shotgun round into the air to break up an argument between a 23-year-old male (victim) and Voss’ brother.  Voss is alleged to have pointed the gun at the victim and threaten to shoot him after firing the round.  The incident on Monday stemmed from a separate incident that occurred on Sunday August 27, 2017 when Voss and the 23-year-old male were involved in an apparent physical confrontation after the 23-year-old got into Voss’ face while selling crabs to buyers.  No charges have been filed in that incident.

Voss was arraigned at JP2 and released on $23,000.00 unsecured bond.

Released: 090317 0630

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

New Castle – State Police are requesting assistance in locating Karel Blalock, 20 of Newark, who is wanted for Escape 3rd, Resisting Arrest, and Theft.  He is also wanted out of New Castle County Superior Court for violation of probation and has an active warrant out of Newark Police Department for Robbery 1st.

If anyone has any information in reference to Karel Blalock’s whereabouts, they are asked to contact Detective P. Lawler at 302-365-8417. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Released: 090217 0800

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