Incident Number: 50-25-27192
Date/Time: Sunday, July 25th, 2025 at 1:36 a.m.
Location: Barrister Place Dover, DE
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Master Corporal Ryan Schmid Email: Ryan.Schmid@cj.state.de.us
Narrative: The Dover Police Department has arrested Josiah Watson, 18, of Wilmington, and Vakendre Taylor, 20, of Dover, on gun charges following an incident at Barrister Place early Sunday morning. The investigation began at 1:36 a.m., when Dover Police received a 911 call in the area of Barrister Place, Dover, DE. Dispatch advised the responding officers that there was screaming on an open line and no one was answering questions. Dispatchers began to review cameras from Barrister Place and observed what appeared to be a large fight and a black SUV leaving the area that appeared to be involved in the fight.
Officers responded to the area and observed a black Range Rover westbound on South Little Creek Road turning onto John Hunn Brown Road. Given the time and location of the vehicle, Officers determined that this was the vehicle fleeing Barrister Place and conducted a traffic stop following a traffic violation. Officers contacted the occupants and identified the rear passengers as defendants Taylor and Watson. Taylor was asked to exit the vehicle, and a firearm was observed under the driver’s seat, at his feet. The firearm was determined to be a 9mm polymer 80. When Watson was asked to exit the vehicle, he ran away, but was caught after a brief foot pursuit. A search of the vehicle led officers to find a second firearm, a 9mm Ruger, under the passenger seat.
Both defendants were transported to the Dover Police Department to be processed and arraigned.
Watson was committed to SCI on $8,500 cash bail on the following charges:
-Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
-Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2x)
-Resisting Arrest
Taylor was committed to SCI on $18,000 cash bail on the following charges:
-Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
-Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2x)
-Possession of an Untraceable Firearm
-Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine
Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Wilmington, DE
Dover, DE
