Case Number: 50-26-5492
When: Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 3:34 p.m.
Where: Unit Block of Stoney Drive, Dover, DE
Contact: M/Cpl. Ryan Schmid, Public Information Officer
Email: [email protected] Phone: 302-736-7130
Dover Police have taken Eric Dryden, 61, into custody after a tense standoff situation that unfolded Wednesday afternoon on Stoney Drive. The incident started when authorities received a call at 3:34 p.m. regarding a domestic dispute where gunshots had been fired.
According to police reports, the situation began when Dryden became involved in a heated dispute with a victim inside their shared residence. During this confrontation, Dryden physically attacked the victim and at one point aimed a gun at her before firing a shot into an interior wall of the home. The victim managed to escape the house safely and called for help.
When officers arrived and tried to convince Dryden to come out of the house, he refused to cooperate. This led to the deployment of Dover Police Department’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT), their Crisis Negotiations Team, and Delaware State Police SORT units. The incident caused major traffic problems in the area, requiring Delaware Department of Transportation crews to help manage the disruption.
Throughout the standoff, Dryden came outside multiple times while armed with a firearm but repeatedly went back inside and would not give himself up to authorities.
At some point during the incident, officials decided to cut power to the home. A City of Dover electrical worker, protected by a Delaware State Police armored vehicle and two Dover Police SORT officers, approached the house to shut off the electricity. While this was happening, Dryden fired his weapon from inside the home toward the outside, coming dangerously close to hitting the utility worker and the officers helping him.
The standoff came to an end when Dryden hurt himself inside the residence and finally gave up. Emergency medical teams treated him at the scene before taking him to a local hospital for care.
Dryden is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital and will face formal charges once doctors clear him. The charges include:
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (2 counts)
- Reckless Endangering (4 counts)
- Aggravated Menacing
- Resisting Arrest
- Offensive Touching
Dryden is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Dover Police expressed gratitude to several organizations that helped during the incident. The Capital School District opened Dover High School as a temporary shelter for residents who had to leave their homes during the standoff. Delaware State Police provided ongoing support and worked closely with Dover officers, while the Delaware Department of Transportation helped control traffic. Kent County Paramedics and Ambulnz provided medical assistance throughout the incident.
Police also thanked the residents who were forced to leave their homes during the standoff, praising their patience and cooperation, which helped officers do their job safely while keeping everyone out of danger.
