Lincoln man charged following police chase in Rehoboth

43-year-old William Tatman, of Lincoln, DE – Delaware State Police Dept.

A Lincoln man is behind bars after police say he stole a car and led them on a chase through Rehoboth.

According to the Delaware State Police Department, the incident occurred around 5:10 p.m., Saturday as troopers responded to the 20,000 block of Coastal Highway in Rehoboth for a theft in progress.

A white male suspect was spotted going through vehicles on the property and was confronted by a witness, according to police. The suspect then fled towards the Loft apartments across the highway and located a 2006 Infiniti M35 running in the rear of the apartment complex.

Police say the suspect then entered the vehicle belonging to a 21-year-old male victim. As the first trooper arrived on scene, he reportedly witnessed the victim being dragged as he was attempting to open the driver side door to stop the suspect from driving away.

The trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens and tried to stop the suspect, but he fled in the stolen vehicle. A pursuit ensued onto westbound Lewes-Georgetown Highway where the suspect allegedly tried to strike a trooper who was in the process of deploying stop sticks.

The pursuit continued to the area of Route 30 and Reynolds Pond Road where a trooper successfully deployed stop sticks disabling the stolen car. The suspect, identified as 43-year-old William Tatman, was taken into custody without further incident.

Tatman has been charged with Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)- 2 counts, Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)- 2 counts, Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony), Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony), Theft Under $1,500- 3 counts, Resisting Arrest, and Numerous Traffic Violations. He was arraigned and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $146,353.00 cash bond.

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