Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Felton – The Delaware State Police are investigating a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor trailer and a car that occurred north of Felton early this morning.

The incident occurred around 12:40 a.m. Friday September 16, 2016 as Diana L. Torres, 34 of Smyrna was operating a 2005 Chevrolet Aveo southbound in the northbound lane of South DuPont Highway (US13) just north of Midstate Road (SR12).  Earl L. Justice, 51 of Hebron, Maryland, was operating a 2006 Freightliner tractor trailer northbound on US13 when the two vehicles struck nearly head-on.  After the impact, both vehicles came to a stop in the center median.

Diana Torres was not properly restrained and was airlifted to Christiana Medical Center where she was admitted with undetermined injuries.  She was cited for Driving on the Wrong Side of the Roadway and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

Earl Justice was properly restrained and was uninjured.

Northbound US13 was closed for approximately two hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.

Released: 091616 0950

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier 

Dover- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate the fatal crash that occurred earlier this evening on SR1 at Exit 98.

Preliminary investigation indicates the incident occurred around 5:56 p.m. Thursday September 15, 2016 as a 77-year-old Millsboro man was operating a 2010 Chevrolet Aveo northbound in the southbound lanes of SR1.  A 22-year-old trooper assigned to Troop 3 in Camden, was operating a fully marked 2012 Chevrolet Caprice southbound in the left lane of SR1 near Exit 98 when the two vehicles collided head-on.

The 77-year-old male, who was not properly restrained, was pronounced dead at the scene.  A family dog was also deceased in the vehicle.

The 22-year-old male trooper was properly restrained and was airlifted by Delaware State Police Aviation to Christiana Medical Center where he is currently admitted with non-life-threatening injuries.

The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.  Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor.  SR1 southbound, which is now re-opened, was closed at Exit 104 for four hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.

Released: 091516 2245

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**Original Release**

**Traffic Advisory** Troopers On Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash – Dover

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier 

Dover- The Delaware State Police are currently on the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash on SR1 southbound at Exit 98 (North Little Creek Road Exit) that  occurred around 5:56 p.m. this evening.

Preliminary investigation indicates the incident involves a state police vehicle and a passenger car and the person in the passenger car has been pronounced dead at the scene. The trooper has been airlifted from the scene to an area hospital with apparent non-life-threatening injuries.

The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently enroute to the scene and will assume the investigation.

SR1 southbound at Exit 104 (Scarborough Road) is closed.  Commuters are advised to seek alternate routes of travel.

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

Released: 091516 1845

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier 

Dover- The Delaware State Police are currently on the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash on SR1 southbound at Exit 98 (North Little Creek Road Exit) that  occurred around 5:56 p.m. this evening.

Preliminary investigation indicates the incident involves a state police vehicle and a passenger car and the person in the passenger car has been pronounced dead at the scene. The trooper has been airlifted from the scene to an area hospital with apparent non-life-threatening injuries.

The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently enroute to the scene and will assume the investigation.

SR1 southbound at Exit 104 (Scarborough Road) is closed.  Commuters are advised to seek alternate routes of travel.

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

Released: 091516 1845

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier 

Millsboro – State Police are requesting assistance in locating Jennifer M. Hatch, 37 of Millsboro, who is wanted for Burglary and Theft related charges as well as a capias out of Sussex Superior Court for Violation of Probation.

Jennifer Hatch is believed to be in the Georgetown or Millsboro areas, although she may have fled into Maryland.

If anyone has any information in reference to her whereabouts, they are asked to contact Detective T. Powell at 302-752-3807. 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: 091516 1025

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Millsboro– The Delaware State Police Major Crimes Unit is currently investigating the shooting of a 28-year-old man as he was standing outside of a residence.

The incident occurred around 9:03 p.m., Wednesday September 14, 2016 when a 9-1-1 call was received from a residence, located in the 20000 block of Miller Drive, advising that a 28-year-old male had been shot during a drive-by shooting.  The investigation revealed the male victim had been standing outside the house with several other people when a dark colored car drove by and began shooting.  No other injuries were reported by the people standing outside, although a family dog had suffered a gunshot wound that was described as non-life-threatening.

The 28-year-old male was transported by EMS to an area hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the lower extremity.

There is currently no suspect information available and the only description of the vehicle was a dark in color car.

Detectives are continuing their investigation and if anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact Detective K. Archer at 302-752-3791. 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: 091516 1015

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Magnolia – The Delaware State Police have arrested a Pennsylvania woman for heroin possession after a traffic stop near Magnolia.

The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday September 14, 2016, as a trooper was patrolling the area of Millchop Lane and Lambert Drive, and observed a blue Honda Accord fail to utilize a turn signal. A traffic stop was conducted on the car and upon making contact with the 28-year-old female operator, who was identified as Marquita Brown of Philadelphia Pennsylvania, an odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle.

Both Brown and a 28-year-old male passenger were asked to exit the vehicle while a search was conducted. A bag was located on under the driver’s seat containing 5,200 bags of heroin (78 grams) as well as .70 grams of marijuana.

Marquita Brown and the passenger were taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 3 where Brown was charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin, Manufacture and Sale of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, and Failure to Signal.  She was arraigned at JP2 and released on $50,000.00 unsecured bond.

The male passenger was not charged.

Released: 091516 0950

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Seaford/Laurel – The Delaware State Police are currently investigating the theft of bus batteries from two separate bus yards.

The thefts occurred sometime through the nighttime hours of Tuesday September 13, 2016 into Wednesday September 14, 2016 at the Lambden Bus Company parking lot located in the 10000 block of Airport Road, Seaford and the Mary Bryant Inc. Bus Company located in the 30000 block of Dukes Road, Laurel.  Around 6:00 a.m., bus drivers began showing up to start their busses and when they didn’t start, they noticed batteries missing from the engine compartment.

Troopers responded to the two separate locations, which are approximately 7.5 miles apart, and the investigation revealed that an unknown suspect(s) removed 30 batteries by unknown means from 10 busses in the Lambden yard and 11 batteries from 5 busses in the Bryant yard before fleeing undetected.

If anyone has any information regarding these incidents, they are asked to contact Troop 5 at 302-337-1090. 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: 091416 1945

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Felton – The Delaware State Police Major Crimes Unit has arrested two people involved in an early September robbery that took place at a Felton area hotel.

The incident occurred Saturday September 3, 2016 around 9:30 p.m. as a 24-year old male victim and a female acquaintance responded to Poynter’s Motel, located at 12338 South DuPont Highway.  Upon opening the door and entering the room the female acquaintance had purchased earlier that day, two black males emerged from the bathroom wearing masks and gloves and began assaulting the male victim.  While the assault was taking place, the female acquaintance, who was later identified as Aaliyah Coleman, 21 of Magnolia, turned and walked out of the room, leaving the male victim behind.  The two male suspects continued assaulting the victim after binding his legs and hands to a chair and placing tape around his mouth before pouring a chemical over his head and threatening to set him on fire.  The suspects then removed money from the victim after cutting hair from his head and then fled the area in an unknown direction.

The male victim was eventually able to free himself and walk to a nearby gas station where he was contacted by troopers after being reported as a suspicious person.  He was transported by EMS to an area hospital where he was treated and released for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Through investigation it was determined that Aaliyah Coleman had befriended the male victim through social media in late August and planned the incident with her boyfriend, Courtney F. Goode Jr., 40 of Camden, and another acquaintance, Michael W. Nunn, 26 of Felton, to bring the victim to the motel.

On September 8, 2016, Aaliyah Coleman was taken into custody at her residence and transported back to Troop 3 where she was charged with Kidnapping 1st, Robbery 1st, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 2nd, and Assault 1st.  She was arraigned at JP2 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $202,000.00 secured bond.

On September 12, 2016, Michael Nunn was taken into custody and charged with Kidnapping 1st, Robbery 1st, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 2nd, Assault 1st and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited.  He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $268,000.00 secured bond.

Courtney F. Goode Jr. had not been located and is currently wanted for Kidnapping 1st, Robbery 1st, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 2nd, Assault 1st and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited.  He also has two warrants for his arrest out of Milford Police Department for Harassment.

If anyone has any information in reference to his whereabouts, they are asked to contact Detective M. Weinstein at 302-698-8443. 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: 091416 1035

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier 

Rehoboth – State Police are requesting assistance in locating Kevin D. Hardy, 31 of Rehoboth Beach, who is wanted for Felony Disregarding a Police Officer’s Signal after he was involved in a pursuit along Coastal Highway (SR1) from Rehoboth to Milton Saturday September 3, 2016.  He is also has warrants for leaving the scene of a property damage collision that occurred on February 19, 2016 in the area of South State Street and Locust Grove Road, Camden, as well as three active capiases out of Delaware courts for violation of probation.

Kevin Hardy may be in the Lewes or Rehoboth areas.

If anyone has any information in reference to his whereabouts, they are asked to contact Troop 7 at 302-644-5020 or Troop 3 at 302-697-4454. 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: 091416 0825

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

Bear- Delaware State Police are currently investigating the robbery of a Bear area pharmacy that occurred earlier this afternoon.

The incident happened on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at approximately 3:15 p.m., as a male suspect entered the CVS Pharmacy located at 1545 Pulaski Highway, Bear. The suspect then approached the sales counter with a handgun and confronted an 18 year old male clerk. He then 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 fled from the business in a northeast direction. There were no injuries.

The suspect was described as a white male approximately 25 to 30 years old, 5’08” to 5’11” tall, weighed approximately 180 lbs., with his face covered wearing a light colored hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans with an unknown type of handgun. There is 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, Glasgow, 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: 091316 2051

-End-