Delaware- With the cold weather approaching, there is an increase in the number of people who leave their cars running unattended in an effort to warm them up before driving anywhere. While this might be good for the engine and make for a toasty commute, this may be costly and is against the law in Delaware.

The most common practice is a victim leaving their car running in a parking lot while they go into a store for a quick purchase. Some car thieves look for cars idling in parking lots and in residential areas by watching the steam that emanates from a car’s exhaust on a cold morning as it warms up or as they leave the car unattended.  Once they see a car is left alone, all they literally have to do is walk up and drive away.

Delaware law states; (Title 21, § 4182) Unattended motor vehicle.  No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.  For a first offense, a fine of $25.00 – $75.00 can be imposed.

Nowadays, vehicles generally need only 30 seconds of warming up before they are ready to go, even in cold weather. After that, the best way to increase your engine’s temperature is by driving the car.  Not only will this get hot air into your cabin faster, it saves gas and cuts emissions.  If temperatures dip to 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, warm the car for a minute or two to ensure the oil thins and circulates fully, but stay with the vehicle.

Even though your engine only requires a minute, you may want extra warm-up time to thaw the rest of the car. The best method for this is to start your car, turn on the defroster and let the engine warm while you scrape the windshield and clear away the frost.  Try not to idle for longer than five minutes to conserve fuel and remember; always stay with the vehicle.

Released: 111316 0715

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Milton – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a fatal crash south of Milton involving a single vehicle.

The incident occurred around 7:48 p.m. Thursday November 10, 2016 as James J. Lynn, 29 of Staten Island, New York, was operating a 2016 Dodge Dart northbound on Harbeson Road (SR5) approaching a moderate curve south of Diamond Farm Road.  For unknown reasons, the car exited the east side of the roadway and traveled northbound in the grass until the right side of the car struck a utility pole.  The vehicle then rotated in a clockwise manner before coming to a stop in the grass off the right side of the road.

A front seat passenger, Brittani R. Yilmaz, 25 of Millsboro, was properly restrained and pronounced dead at the scene.

James Lynn was flown from the scene to Christiana Medical Center where he was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries.  Lynn was later charged with Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death of Another Person, Failure to Remain in a Single Lane, and Failure to Have Insurance.  He was arraigned at JP3 and released after posting $2,000.00 secured bond. (No photo available of Lynn at this time)

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.  Speed does not appear to be a factor in this case and alcohol or drug impairment is unknown at this time.  Harbeson Road south of Diamond Farm Road was closed for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated and cleared as well as utility crews repairing downed wires.

Milton – The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a fatal crash involving a single vehicle into an electrical pole on Harbeson Road (SR5) south of Diamond Farm Road that occurred around 7:48 p.m. this evening. One person has died as a result of this crash and another has been transported to an area hospital with undetermined injuries.

Bridgeville– The Delaware State Police are investigating a home invasion style robbery that occurred south of Bridgeville.

The incident occurred around 5:49 a.m., Wednesday November 9, 2016 when a male subject forcefully entered a side door to a residence located in the 2000 block of Windy Lane.  The suspect then confronted a 60-year-old male and a 42-year-old female that were asleep in the living room and demanded their cell phones and car keys.  The victims complied and turned over the items before the suspect fled the house in an unknown direction.  The two victims were uninjured in the incident.

The suspect was described as a male with a small build, wearing a mask and gloves (No further physical or clothing description). He was armed with an unknown type handgun.

Detectives have determined through preliminary interviews and investigation that this was not a random act and believe the house may have been targeted.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Detective J. Jones at 302-752-3795. 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: 111016 1910

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Hockessin- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has identified the 41-year-old West Grove, PA woman killed in the two vehicle crash on Lancaster Pike yesterday morning as Evelyn Marks.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police.

Released: 111016 1239

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**Original Releases**

Hockessin- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate a fatal motor vehicle crash which claimed the life of one person this morning in Hockessin.

The investigation has determined that the crash occurred at approximately 10:41 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, as a 41-year-old West Grove, PA woman was operating a 2016 Nissan Murano and was traveling in a westbound direction on DE Rt. 48 (Lancaster Pike) approximately .25 miles northwest of Old Wilmington Road. For an unknown reason, the Murano crossed the double yellow line and entered the eastbound lane where it struck the front of a 1997 Peterbuilt dump truck, which was traveling in an eastbound direction on Lancaster Pike, and which was being operated by Shawn Spinella, 37, of Conestoga, PA. After the impact the Murano was forced in an eastbound direction where it came to rest in the roadway and burst into flames. The dump truck crossed the westbound lane of Lancaster Pike and traveled through a guard rail before traveling down an embankment where it came to rest.

The female operator of the Murano, who was trapped in her vehicle, was declared dead at the scene. It is unknown if she was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. It is also unknown if alcohol or drug use on behalf of the victim were a factor in the crash. The victim’s name is being withheld at this time pending the notification of her next of kin.

Shawn Spinella, who was not properly restrained at the time of the crash, was treated at the scene by New Castle County Paramedics. He was then transported by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. Alcohol or drug use on behalf of Spinella are not being considered as a factor in the crash.

Lancaster Pike in the area of Old Wilmington Road was closed for approximately 5 hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, however, no charges will be filed.

Released: 110916 1928

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**Original Release**

Hockessin- Delaware State Police are currently investigating a two vehicle crash which has claimed the life of one person and injured another that occurred this morning in Hockessin.

The initial investigation has determined that the crash happened at approximately 10:41 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, on DE Rt. 48 (Lancaster Pike) in the area of Wilmington Road, Hockessin, and involves a dump truck and a passenger vehicle. As a result of the crash, the operator of the passenger vehicle has been declared dead at the scene. The operator of the dump truck has been removed from the scene and transported by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.

Lancaster Pike has been closed to traffic in both directions and commuters are asked to find alternate routes of travel around the scene.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has responded to the scene and will assume the investigation.

Further updates will be provided at the conclusion of the investigation.

Released: 110916 1136

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Seaford–  On Saturday November 5, 2016 the Sussex Drug Unit and the Seaford Police Department concluded a joint investigation which targeted a large-scale Heroin distribution organization centered in the Seaford area.

The six month investigation dubbed “Operation No Way Out” was concluded with the assistance of the Kent and Sussex County Governor’s Task Force, State Police New Castle County Drug Unit, DEA-Salisbury, Maryland State Police, and Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force (WINTF).

The investigation revealed the leaders of the organization as Brandon A. Ways, 27 of Smyrna, and Torontay T. Mann, 25 of Seaford.  Associates involved in the organization included Vanity N. Corea, 30 of Seaford, Norquetta C. Heath, 32 of Seaford, and Angeline M. Metelus, 21 of Bridgeville.  The organization was known to operate out of three separate residences all located within the limits of Seaford and one in Salisbury, Maryland.  Brandon Ways and Torontay Mann were also known to be using a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Nissan Maxima to transport the heroin for distribution.

The final phase of the investigation began with the execution of numerous search warrants.  Initially, a search warrant was executed on a blue 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee after the vehicle, which was operated by Angeline Metelus, was stopped by troopers in the area of South DuPont Highway (US13) and Webbs Lane near Dover.  During a search of the vehicle, 79,500 bags of heroin totaling 1,192.5 grams was located.

Search warrants were then executed by the Seaford Police Department and Delaware State Police at the three apartments within the limits of Seaford as follows:

100 block of Woodland Mills Apartments:  Upon entering the apartment, Norquetta Heath was taken into custody without incident.  A search of the residence revealed .40 caliber ammunition, .9mm ammunition, and a .40 Caliber Glock handgun magazine.  Brandon Ways exited the apartment just prior and was taken into custody on a traffic stop on Atlanta Road.  He was found to be in possession of over $800.00 in suspected drug proceeds.

800 block of Chandler Heights II:  Torontay Mann and Tateyana Rideout, 22 of Seaford, were taken into custody without incident.  Detectives seized a .22 caliber handgun located in a hand bag inside a bedroom closet along with 13 grams of marijuana and $3,655.00 in suspected drug proceeds.

Unit block of Seaford Meadows:  Vanity Corea was taken into custody at this residence.  Detectives located and seized three firearms during the search including a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun, and a second .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number.  Drug paraphernalia was also seized including packaging materials and a digital scale located inside a safe.

As a result of the investigation, the suspects were all transported back to Troop 4 in Georgetown where they were formally charged as follows on Saturday November 5, 2016:

Brandon A. Ways – Possession of Tier 5 quantity Heroin, Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin, four counts of Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited, and Conspiracy 2^nd.  He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) in default of $134,000.00 cash bond.

Torontay T. Mann – Possession of Tier 5 quantity Heroin, Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin, Possession Firearm by Person Prohibited, and Conspiracy 2^nd.   He was released from SCI after posting $125,000.00 secured bond.

Vanity N. Corea – Possesion of a Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number, Maintaining a Drug Property, and Conspiracy 2^nd.  She was released on $16,000.00 unsecured bond.

Angeline M. Metelus – Possession of Heroin in a Tier 5 quantity, Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin, and Conspiracy 2^nd.  She has since been released after posting $42,000.00 secured bond.

Norquetta C. Heath – Maintaining a Drug Property and Conspiracy 2^nd.  She was released on $5,000.00 unsecured bond.

Tateyana Rideout – Maintaining a Drug Property and Conspiracy 2^nd.  She was released on $5,000.00 unsecured bond.

On Monday November 7, 2016, members of the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at Brandon Ways’ residence in Ocean Aisle Apartments Salisbury, Maryland.  Torontay Mann, who had been bailed out from the November 5^th incident, was contacted after he was leaving the apartment.  A search of the residence revealed a Rossi .38 special revolver in the bedroom dresser. The firearm was previously reported stolen to the Bridgeville Police Department in Delaware.  Mann was charged with the weapons offense and released after posting bond in Maryland.

Released: 111016 0930

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Hockessin- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate a fatal motor vehicle crash which claimed the life of one person this morning in Hockessin.

The investigation has determined that the crash occurred at approximately 10:41 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, as a 41 year old West Grove, PA woman was operating a 2016 Nissan Murano and was traveling in a westbound direction on DE Rt. 48 (Lancaster Pike) approximately .25 miles northwest of Old Wilmington Road. For an unknown reason, the Murano crossed the double yellow line and entered the eastbound lane where it struck the front of a 1997 Peterbuilt dump truck, which was traveling in an eastbound direction on Lancaster Pike, and which was being operated by Shawn Spinella, 37, of Conestoga, PA. After the impact the Murano was forced in an eastbound direction where it came to rest in the roadway and burst into flames. The dump truck crossed the westbound lane of Lancaster Pike and traveled through a guard rail before traveling down an embankment where it came to rest.

The female operator of the Murano, who was trapped in her vehicle, was declared dead at the scene. It is unknown if she was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. It is also unknown if alcohol or drug use on behalf of the victim were a factor in the crash. The victim’s name is being withheld at this time pending the notification of her next of kin.

Shawn Spinella, who was not properly restrained at the time of the crash, was treated at the scene by New Castle County Paramedics. He was then transported by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. Alcohol or drug use on behalf of Spinella are not being considered as a factor in the crash.

Lancaster Pike in the area of Old Wilmington Road was closed for approximately 5 hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, however, no charges will be filed.

Released: 110916 1928

-End-

**Original Release**

Hockessin- Delaware State Police are currently investigating a two vehicle crash which has claimed the life of one person and injured another that occurred this morning in Hockessin.

The initial investigation has determined that the crash happened at approximately 10:41 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, on DE Rt. 48 (Lancaster Pike) in the area of Wilmington Road, Hockessin, and involves a dump truck and a passenger vehicle. As a result of the crash, the operator of the passenger vehicle has been declared dead at the scene. The operator of the dump truck has been removed from the scene and transported by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.

Lancaster Pike has been closed to traffic in both directions and commuters are asked to find alternate routes of travel around the scene.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has responded to the scene and will assume the investigation.

Further updates will be provided at the conclusion of the investigation.

Released: 110916 1136

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Hockessin- Delaware State Police are currently investigating a two vehicle crash which has claimed the life of one person and injured another that occurred this morning in Hockessin.

The initial investigation has determined that the crash happened at approximately 10:41 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, on DE Rt. 48 (Lancaster Pike) in the area of Wilmington Road, Hockessin, and involves a dump truck and a passenger vehicle. As a result of the crash, the operator of the passenger vehicle has been declared dead at the scene. The operator of the dump truck has been removed from the scene and transported by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.

Lancaster Pike has been closed to traffic in both directions and commuters are asked to find alternate routes of travel around the scene.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has responded to the scene and will assume the investigation.

Further updates will be provided at the conclusion of the investigation.

Released: 110916 1136

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Seaford – The Delaware State Police have arrested a wanted sex offender and found drugs in his possession.

The incident began around 2:00 p.m. Tuesday November 8, 2016 as troopers assigned to the Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement (P.A.C.E.) team, with the assistance of the Sussex County Drug Unit, Sussex County Governors Task Force, Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (S.O.A.R.), and the Special Operations Response Team (S.O.R.T.) were conducting surveillance on Maurice D. Cannon, 34 with a last registered address in Bridgeville.  Cannon was wanted by S.O.A.R. after he failed to re-register as a sex offender within three days of change of address as well as making a false written statement back in August of 2016 (See News Release: https://dsp.delaware.gov/2016/09/03/dsp-s-o-a-r-searching-for-wanted-sex-offenders-4/).  He was also wanted out of Sussex County Courts for capiases.

Troopers began following Cannon from a residence on Oneals Road and continued to follow as he drove throughout lower Sussex County.  He was taken into custody without incident as he pulled into the Delmar Pizza parking lot located at 38660 Sussex Highway where a search was conducted on the vehicle.  Located in a book bag was 90.03 grams of marijuana, 41.30 grams of powdered cocaine, 40.07 grams of crack cocaine, 6 Acetaminophen Hydrocodone pills, and over $3,100.00 in suspected drug proceeds.

Maurice Cannon was transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 5 Quantity (Cocaine), two counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 4 quantity (Cocaine), Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription.  He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $105,000.00 secured bond.

Released: 110916 1055

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Camden –The Delaware State Police Troop 3 will host a dedication ceremony of the community room on Saturday November 12, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. honoring Corporal David B. Pulling (1956-1987). On November 18, 1987 Corporal David Pulling, 31, a six-year veteran of the Delaware State Police, was killed when an explosive device detonated at the F.B.I. Bomb Data Training Center, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. Corporal Pulling joined the State Police on September 8, 1981 and during his career was assigned to the K-9 unit, SORT Unit, and the Traffic Division at Troop 3, Camden. David Pulling was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 22, 1956. He moved to Dover in 1968 with his parents, Richard and Jacqueline, and his brother, Richard, Jr. Corporal Pulling attended Dover High School and the University of Delaware. After graduation David worked with his brother, for four years, at the Petersburg, Virginia Police Department. He moved back to Delaware in 1981, joining the Delaware State Police. Corporal Pulling was married to his wife Elizabeth in 1981 and was the father of two boys, George, his step son, and Jonathan. The boys were very important to Dave. Funeral Services were held at the Odds Fellows Cemetery, Camden, Delaware.

An open house of the facility will be held immediately following the ceremony and will last until 3:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and troopers will be on-hand to provide guided tours to community members.

Troop 3 is located at 3759 South State Street, Camden. Designed by the architectural firm of Becker Morgan Group of Dover, Delaware, the complex is situated on 20 acres. The 31,000 square foot facility was constructed by Commonwealth Construction Company of Wilmington and Site work by A-Del Construction of Newark, Delaware at a project cost of $16.9 million.

The facility consists of office space, 8 interview rooms, 6 temporary holding cells, 3 temporary detention rooms, a fingerprint facility, evidence processing and storage area, a large community room, a patrol officer resource room, a patrol officer roll call room, a fitness room, and a 7,000 square foot maintenance facility/evidence storage which includes a 4 bay garage with 2 vehicle lifts.

Troop 3 houses approximately 100 troopers including administrative personnel, 50 patrol officers, and 50 detectives (including members of the special investigations section).

We would like to thank our community sponsors for the open house:

• Schagrin Gas
• Delaware Electric Cooperative
• Chick-Fil-A
• Wawa
• Mission BBQ
• Lowes
• Georgia Boy’s Bagel Café

Delaware State Police will also have various units on hand:

• Mounted Patrol Unit
• Motorcycle Unit
• Aviation
• SCUBA
• Explosive Ordinance Disposal
• Pipe and Drums Unit
• Recruiters
• Community Outreach Unit
• Magnolia Fire Company
• Canine Demonstration

Re-Released: 110916 0800

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