Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Sandtown – The Delaware State Police are currently at the scene of an aircraft crash southwest of Sandtown.

The preliminary investigation has determined that the incident occurred at approximately 9:20 a.m. this morning, Wednesday July 19, 2017, as a privately owned crop duster occupied by one individual, crashed in a bean field just off Mahan Corner Road, east of Still Road.  The pilot was removed from the aircraft and has been transported to an area hospital with undetermined injuries.

The investigation is in its early stages and more information will be released when it becomes available.

Released: 071917 1030

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Magnolia – Troopers have arrested the third suspect involved in the June 22, 2017  Magnolia area shooting complaint.

Marc A. Romano, 27 with a last known address in Newark, was taken into custody without incident by the U.S. Marshalls on June 26, 2017 after numerous tips were received alerting detectives that he may be hiding out in a residence on South American Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Romano has been incarcerated in a Philadelphia area prison since that time and was extradited back to Delaware yesterday, Tuesday July 18, 2017.  He was charged with Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, seven counts of Reckless Endangering 1st, and Conspiracy 2nd.  He is being held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Institution on $114,000.00 cash bond.

Click to view original release: Two Arrested and One Sought Following Shooting Investigation near Magnolia

Released: 071917 0900

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

Both lanes of US 13 are now open. Commuters are advised to use caution in the area.

**Traffic Advisory-Middletown**

Released: 071817 1628

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

Middletown – The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a two vehicle crash on US 13 south of Lorewood Grove Road (St. Georges Bridge) which occurred at around 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. At this time it is unknown how many people are injured and the extent of their injuries.

U.S. 13 in the area of the crash is currently closed. Commuters are advised to use caution in the area of the crash as crews are continuing to investigate the collision.

Released: 071817 1611

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Hartly – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a single vehicle fatal crash that claimed the life of a woman early this morning.

Preliminary investigation suggests the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m., Tuesday July 18, 2017, as Melinda G. Foraker, 42 of Hartly, was operating a 1998 Honda Civic westbound on Halltown Road (SR8), just west of Hartly Road (SR44) approaching a slight curve.  The operator failed to negotiate the curve and traveled off the north side of the roadway striking a large pine tree with its right rear quarter panel. This collision forced the Civic to rotate clockwise and continue in a westerly direction, striking a mailbox, and then colliding with another large pine tree with its left front fender.  The car redirected off the second large pine tree, while continuing a clockwise rotation, coming to a stop facing east along the westbound shoulder of SR8.

Melinda Foraker was not properly restrained and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.  Speed may have been a contributing factor although it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were factors in this crash. Halltown Road between Hartly Road and Brittney Lane was closed for approximately four hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.

Released: 071817 0845

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

Newark- The Delaware State Police is currently investigating the armed robbery of a Newark area Arby’s restaurant which occurred this past weekend.

The preliminary investigation has determined the incident occurred at approximately 10:02 p.m., Saturday, July 15, 2017, as a male suspect entered the Arby’s restaurant located at 13 Liberty Plaza, Newark. The suspect approached four employees at the cash registers and displayed a weapon then demanded money from the registers. The employees complied with the suspect’s demands and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to him. The suspect then exited the restaurant and fled in an unknown direction. There were no injuries.

The suspect was described as a white male approximately 25 to 40 years old, 5’06” to 5’09” tall, 150 to 170 lbs., wearing dark clothing with his face covered. There is no further physical or clothing description available.

No video surveillance footage is available at this time.

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, via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

Released: 071817 0731

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

Newark- The Delaware Sate State Police is currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash involving a motorcyclist that occurred last evening east of Newark.

The initial investigation has determined the crash occurred at approximately 9:49 p.m. last evening, Sunday, July 16, 2017, as Christopher Cooper, 45 of Philadelphia, was operating a 2001 Suzuki GSX motorcycle on I-95 northbound in the left center lane under the SR 1 flyover ramps. For unknown reasons, the operator lost control of the motorcycle and then laid the bike down. The motorcycle began to slide in a northwesterly direction and into the left shoulder. The motorcycle struck the concrete barrier which divides I-95 northbound and southbound lanes. The motorcycle continued to slide northbound in the left shoulder where it came to rest. The operator was ejected from the motorcycle and slid out into the northbound lanes of I-95 where he came to rest. As he was lying in the roadway, several vehicles struck the victim and continued northbound.

Christopher Cooper, 45 of Philadelphia, who was wearing a DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Speed on the part of the operator is believed to be a factor in the collision.

The striking vehicles in this collision are described as:

-Silver 2014-2016 Mazda 3 with front right damage

-1998-2002 Honda Accord with front end damage

I-95 northbound was closed at DE 273 for approximately three hours while the collision was investigated and the roadway cleared.

If anyone has witnessed this incident or has any information in reference to this case they are asked to contact Sergeant P. Dzielak of the Collision Reconstruction Unit at Troop 2, (302) 365-8484. 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.”

**Traffic Advisory** – Troopers Investigating Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

Released: 071717 1721

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

Newark- The Delaware State Police is currently investigating the armed robbery of a Newark area Arby’s restaurant which occurred earlier this month.

The preliminary investigation has determined the incident occurred at approximately 9:53 p.m., Saturday, July 8, 2017, as a male suspect entered the Arby’s restaurant located at 13 Liberty Plaza, Newark. The suspect approached a male employee at the cash register and implied he had a weapon, however no weapon was displayed and demanded money from the register. The employee complied with the suspect’s demands and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to him. The suspect then exited the restaurant and fled in an unknown direction. There were no injuries.

The suspect was described as a white male approximately 20 to 30 years old wearing dark clothing with his face covered. There is no further physical or clothing description available.

No video surveillance footage is available at this time.

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, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

Released: 071717 1621

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

New Castle, DE- The Delaware State Police is currently investigating a motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle that occurred yesterday afternoon.

The initial investigation has determined the crash occurred on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at approximately 4:37 p.m., as Wei Ming He, 54 of Brooklyn, NY was operating a 2005 Toyota Minivan and had stopped on Hamburg Road. The minivan then entered the intersection to make a left hand turn northbound onto River Road. A 2007 Honda VC8 motorcycle, operated by Kenneth W. Jensen, 56 of New Castle, was traveling southbound on River Road approaching Hamburg Road when the minivan entered into his lane which caused the motorcycle to strike the left side of the vehicle on River Road. The Toyota Minivan was driven to a controlled stop onto the right shoulder. The operator of the motorcycle and the passenger were ejected off of the motorcycle.

Kenneth W. Jensen and his passenger, Marlene C. Carpenter, 57 of Lewes were wearing a DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet. Both were transported by EMS to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Wei Ming He was not injured in the collision. He was cited for Vehicle Turning Left Must Yield Right of Way to Oncoming Traffic.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police. Hamburg Road in the area of River Road was impacted for approximately one hour as the crash was investigated and cleared.

Released: 071717 1411

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

Major Daniel K. Meadows – Special Operations Major 

Daniel Meadows has been a member of the Delaware State Police since 1997. Prior to his employment with the Delaware State Police, he was a police officer with the New Castle County Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of Major on October 16, 2016. Major Meadows is currently assigned as the Special Operations Officers statewide. The duties associated with this position includes oversight of all Delaware State Police full-time Special Operations Units, to include the Intelligence and Homeland Security Section, the Delaware Information and Analysis Center (DIAC), the Aviation Section, the Maritime Unit, the Homicide Unit, Crime Lab, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Delaware Gaming Enforcement Unit, and the Executive Protection Unit.

The Special Operations officer also has oversight of all Delaware State Police part-time special units statewide to include the Conflict Management Team, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Scuba Unit, Special Operations Response Team (SORT), and the Tactical Control Unit.

Prior to his promotion, Daniel Meadows was assigned, as a Captain, to the Criminal Intelligence and Homeland Security Section in Dover, Delaware. He was responsible for the daily operation of the Delaware Information and Analysis Center, which is the State designated fusion center for Delaware. In addition, he had oversight for other operational units within the Delaware State Police. These included the Maritime Unit, the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit, the High Technology Crimes Unit, the Electronic Surveillance Unit, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

Daniel is a graduate of Wilmington University in Delaware with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice earned in 1994. He also graduated the same University in 2008 with a Master’s Degree in Management with a focus in Human Resources. He is a certified Instructor with the Delaware Council on Police Training. Major Meadows is a 2016 graduate of the 266^th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) National Academy.

Major Sean E. Moriarty, Ed. D. – Operations Officer for Kent and Sussex Counties

Sean E. Moriarty has been a member of the Delaware State Police since 1994. Prior to his employment with the Delaware State Police, he worked as a police officer and dispatcher in Wayland, Massachusetts. He was promoted to the rank of Major and assigned as the Operations Officer for Kent and Sussex Counties, effective April 16, 2017.

Prior to his appointment on the Delaware State Police Executive Staff, Major Moriarty served as the Director of Training for the Delaware State Police and the Administrator for the Delaware Council on Police Training. He was responsible for all recruit, in-service, firearms, canine, and elective training.

Major Moriarty’s prior assignments include: Troop Commander (Troop-4: Georgetown), Director of the Office of Professional Responsibility, which included internal affairs, inspections, and accreditation, Troop-7 Deputy Troop Commander, Assistant Director of the State Bureau of Identification, Assistant Director of the Planning and Research Section, polygraph unit supervisor and examiner, shift commander/patrol sergeant, major crimes detective, and patrol trooper.

Major Moriarty is a 2016 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) National Academy. He holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Innovation, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He is a certified Master Instructor with the Delaware Council on Police Training and a principal instructor for the Delaware State Police Leadership Development Program. In addition to teaching a myriad of courses at the Delaware State Police Academy, he is an adjunct professor for Wilmington University and Delaware Technical Community College. He has published articles in periodicals including: The Police Chief and the Delaware Trooper. He is also the author of the book, Leadership Development for Law Enforcement: A Model for Program Implementation.

Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. Announces State Police Promotions

Released: 071717 1201

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