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  • DNREC to Reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park Sept. 1

    DNREC to Reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park Sept. 1

    The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half-mile along the bay shoreline on Thursday, Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1 for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter.

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    The area to reopen includes a stretch of ocean beach and dunes that was previously closed on March 1. Since 1993, The Point has closed annually each March for the benefit of threatened and endangered beach-nesters and migratory shorebirds, including red knot, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns and other species.

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    The DNREC Divisions of Parks and Recreation, Fish and Wildlife, and Watershed Stewardship have worked together since 1990 to implement a management plan to halt the decline of beach-nester and migratory shorebird populations.

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    For more information, contact Cape Henlopen State Park at 302-645-8983, or stop by the park office.

  • Troopers Arrest Two Subjects for Felony Drug Charges

    Troopers Arrest Two Subjects for Felony Drug Charges

    25-year-old Chanel Fosque of Lincoln, DE
    28-year-old Christopher Thomas of Lincoln, DE

    Delaware State Police have arrested 25-year-old Chanel Fosque of Lincoln, DE and 28-year-old Christopher Thomas of Lincoln, DE for felony narcotics charges following an investigation that occurred in the Lincoln area on Tuesday afternoon.

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    On August 30, 2022, at approximately 1:00 p.m., troopers responded to a residence on the 22000 block of Pine Haven Road in an attempt to locate Chanel Fosque, who had several active warrants for her arrest. Upon their arrival, troopers contacted Fosque along with her two juvenile children inside the residence. Further investigation revealed Fosque had approximately 3.64 grams of suspected heroin, approximately 5.15 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia stored inside of the home. The second suspect, Christopher Thomas, who also lives at the residence, was not present at the time of the incident. Thomas later turned himself in at Troop 4.

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    Fosque was taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop 4, where she was charged with the following crimes:

    • Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
    • Endangering the Welfare of a Child – 2 counts
    • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 2 counts
    • Possession of Marijuana

    Fosque was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 2 and released on $7,100 unsecured bond.

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    Thomas was charged with the following crimes:

    • Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
    • Endangering the Welfare of a Child – 2 counts
    • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

    Thomas was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 2 and released on $6,500 unsecured bond.

  • Ocean View Investigation Leads To A Large Seizure of Cash And Drugs | Suspect Arrested

    Ocean View Investigation Leads To A Large Seizure of Cash And Drugs | Suspect Arrested

    Victoria Renee Kisner (29) of Ocean View

    On August 25, 2022, the Ocean View Police Department, and the DEA (Dover) Taskforce raided a house located at 87 West Avenue in Ocean View. According to Chief of Police Ken McLaughlin, reports of suspicious activity in the area resulted in police launching an investigation into drug sales several months ago.

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    During the search of the home, police seized 1052 baggies of heroin, 368 suspected Fentanyl pills, and $45,237 in cash.

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    Police charged Victoria Renee Kisner (29) of Ocean View with:

    -Five counts of Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Tier 3 Quantity

    -Five counts of Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 3 Quantity

    -Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 1 Quantity

    -Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

    -Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

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    Kisner was arraigned by Justice of The Peace Court # 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institute on $302,200 cash bond.

  • Delaware State Police Phone Number Used in Spoofed Phone Number Scam

    Delaware State Police Phone Number Used in Spoofed Phone Number Scam

    The Delaware State Police is issuing the following advisory for a recurring phone scam involving a “spoofed phone number.”

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    The Delaware State Police is aware of multiple incidents in which individuals have received phone calls from a Delaware State Police-issued telephone number. Only the number appears on the caller ID; if that number is looked up, it shows that it is a valid Delaware State Police phone number.

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    Caller ID spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally.

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    This is a reminder that the Delaware State Police will never request payment for fines, traffic tickets, or bail. All these transactions are conducted by the respective court systems and never over the phone. Electronic payments are also never requested via phone for court matters.

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    If someone calls you regarding a family member, do not offer personal information about yourself or the family member. Immediately attempt to contact the family to verify their status on your own. Indicators of scam calls are threats, orders not to hang up, and other statements where the scammer places urgency on their request for information or money.

  • Numerous Delaware Hunting Seasons to Open in September

    Numerous Delaware Hunting Seasons to Open in September

    Delaware hunters can start their 2022/2023 hunting season Thursday, Sept. 1 with the opening of mourning dove, archery and crossbow deer, coyote and resident Canada goose hunting seasons, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Teal season opens Saturday, Sept. 10 and gray squirrel season opens Thursday, Sept. 15.

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    Hunting season dates and hunting hours for seasons opening in September:

    • Resident Canada goose: Sept. 1 thru 24 (½-hour before sunrise to sunset)
    • Dove: Sept.1 thru Oct. 3 (½-hour before sunrise to sunset)*
    • Archery and Crossbow Deer: Sept. 1 thru Jan. 31, 2023, including Sundays (½- hour before sunrise to ½-hour after sunset)
    • Coyote: Sept. 1 thru Feb. 28, 2023 (½- hour before sunrise to ½-hour after sunset)
    • King, Clapper and Virginia Rails, Sora, Moorhens and Gallinules: Sept. 3 thru Nov. 23 (½-hour before sunrise to sunset)
    • Common Snipe: Sept. 9 thru Nov. 26 (½-hour before sunrise to sunset)
    • Teal: Sept. 10 thru 28 (½-hour before sunrise to sunset, limited to the designated teal zone south of the C&D Canal to Lewes and east of Routes 13, 113/113A and 1)
    • Gray Squirrel: Sept. 15 thru Feb. 4, 2023 (½-hour before sunrise to ½-hour after sunset; closed during the November deer general firearm season)

    *Reminder: Non-toxic shot must be used for dove hunting on state wildlife areas during the month of September; lead shot is not permitted. Hunting hours may differ at specific dove fields on certain state wildlife areas.

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    The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife offers many early season hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas. Wildlife area maps and rules are available at de.gov/wamaps, with information specific to Sunday deer hunting on state wildlife areas posted at de.gov/sundayhunt. Additional information on September migratory bird hunting opportunities and associated rules on state wildlife areas is available online at de.gov/migratorybirdhunting.

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    A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp. Dove, goose and teal hunters also need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, which can be obtained online at de.gov/digitaldnrec or by calling toll free 1-855-DEL-HUNT (1-855-335-4868). When using the online DNREC permitting system, hunters should either create a profile or use the “Quick Hunting Registration” option.

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    Registered motor vehicles used to access designated wildlife areas owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife are required to have and display a Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual CAP with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a CAP, hunters will need the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.

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    Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware waterfowl stamps and Conservation Access Passes can be purchased online at de.gov/digitaldnrec or from hunting license agents statewide. Hunters obtaining a LEN are reminded that they should create a profile at de.gov/digitaldnrec or obtain a LEN from a hunting license agent if they have not already done so. Federal Duck Stamps are available for purchase at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges and online at 2022/2023 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

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    More information on hunting seasons and wildlife areas is available in the 2022/2023 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide at de.gov/hunting. More information on hunting licenses, the state waterfowl stamp and the Conservation Access Pass is available at de.gov/huntinglicense.

  • Troopers Arrest Three Subjects for Shoplifting and Resisting Arrest

    Troopers Arrest Three Subjects for Shoplifting and Resisting Arrest

    Jennifer Ramirez-Sanchez
    Sophia Gonzales
    Nubia Garcia

    Delaware State Police have arrested 24-year-old Jennifer Ramirez-Sanchez of Flushing, New York; 24-year-old Sophia Gonzales of Flushing, New York; and 51-year-old Nubia Garcia of Brooklyn, New York on numerous charges following a shoplifting investigation that began in the Rehoboth Beach area on Thursday evening.

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    On August 25, 2022, at approximately 4:25 p.m., troopers on patrol in the area of the Bayside Outlets were informed by a witness that several female subjects had shoplifted clothing from the Columbia Sportswear store. The suspects had concealed merchandise in large handbags and were seen walking through the parking lot. Troopers attempted to contact the female suspects in the parking lot, but they continued walking away and physically resisted being detained. Troopers were able to take three of the four subjects into custody at the scene, while the fourth unidentified female suspect fled the area on foot. The ensuing investigation revealed that the suspects had shoplifted from several outlet stores and had worn various disguises while doing so. The suspects had also concealed stolen items underneath vehicles in the Bayside Outlets parking lot.

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    The three suspects, identified as Jennifer Ramirez-Sanchez, Sophia Gonzales, and Nubia Garcia, were transported to Troop 7 and charged with the following crimes:

    Jennifer Ramirez-Sanchez:

    • Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
    • Possession of Shoplifting Tools (Felony)
    • Shoplifting Under $1,500 – 2 counts
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Conspiracy Third Degree

    Ramirez-Sanchez was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $4,000 secured bond.

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    Sophia Gonzales:

    • Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
    • Possession of Shoplifting Tools (Felony)
    • Shoplifting Under $1,500 – 2 counts
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Hindering Prosecution
    • Conspiracy Third Degree

    Gonzales was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $4,500 secured bond.

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    Nubia Garcia:

    • Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
    • Possession of Shoplifting Tools (Felony)
    • Shoplifting Under $1,500 – 2 counts
    • Criminal Impersonation
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Hindering Prosecution
    • Conspiracy Third Degree

    Garcia was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $5,000 secured bond.

  • SCCC Inmate Located When He Walked Away From A Work Assignment.

    SCCC Inmate Located When He Walked Away From A Work Assignment.

    Ryan Gray

    The Delaware Department of Correction announces the following offender from the Sussex Community Corrections Center (SCCC) in Georgetown who willfully walked away from an approved outside work assignment at the facility has been apprehended.

    Name: Ryan Gray

    Date of walk-away: 8/25/2022

    Date of Birth: 08/08/1996

    Last known address: Georgetown, DE

    Current Offense: Burglary 3rd, Criminal Mischief >$1,000

    Details of apprehension:

    On Thursday, August 25, 2022, Ryan Gray walked away from the grounds of SCCC while working an approved outside assignment within the facilities programs area. He was quickly apprehended by the Sussex Escapee Recovery Team. There is no concern to public safety at this time. Court information pending.

  • Governor Carney Orders Lowering of Flags

    Governor Carney Orders Lowering of Flags

    WILMINGTON, Del. – In recognition and memory of Senator Richard Cordrey’s service to the State of Delaware, Governor Carney has ordered the Delaware flag at state buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff until sunset on August 27, 2022.

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    Governor Carney also released the following statement:

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    “I was sad this week to learn of the passing of Senator Richard Cordrey – a one-of-a-kind leader in the Delaware General Assembly. Senator Cordrey is the longest serving Senate President Pro Temp in Delaware history, serving for 19 years. He was the ultimate southern Delaware gentleman who was well liked and respected by Delawareans across our state. He brought a certain grace to his work as a leader in the State Senate and as Finance Secretary for Governor Minner. His influence on Delaware’s economy – especially his efforts on financial stability – will have a lasting impact on our state. Senator Cordrey also used his experience as a Sussex County farmer to support Delaware agriculture and to bring a conservative approach to fiscal matters. The State of Delaware is in a stronger place because of his service. Senator Cordrey will be sorely missed.”

  • DNREC to Host Community Workshop on Proposed Biogas Facility in Southern Delaware

    DNREC to Host Community Workshop on Proposed Biogas Facility in Southern Delaware

    The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will hold a virtual community workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 28 about a proposal by Bioenergy Devco (BDC) to expand its existing composting facility in Seaford, Del. to transform organic waste into renewable energy. The proposed project will require multiple permits from DNREC, spanning several of the Department’s divisions, including Air Quality, Waste and Hazardous Substances, and Water. Detailed information about the project and community resources are available at de.gov/biodevco.

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    The Sept. 28 virtual community workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. The workshop will allow the community to learn more about BDC’s expansion plans and information contained in the permit applications before making official public comments. These plans include the construction of an anaerobic digester, which breaks down organic wastes and converts them into renewable natural gas or “biogas” and an organic soil amendment.

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    The virtual community workshop will be conducted by DNREC staff. Attendees will be able to ask questions of the Department about the proposed project. Closed captioning, in languages including English and Spanish, is available as an option. Registration and connection information is published on the DNREC events calendar at de.gov/dnrecmeetings.

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    A virtual public hearing for the project will be held about a month later, scheduled at 6 p.m. on Oct. 26. The public hearing will allow attendees who have pre-registered to offer comments on the applications to be entered into the public record. Closed captioning, in languages including English and Spanish, is available as an option. All public comments, whether received verbally at the public hearing or in writing before or after the hearing, have the same weight and will be considered equally by the Secretary in making a decision on whether to grant the permit. Registration and connection information is published on the DNREC public hearing webpage, de.gov/dnrechearings.  ​

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    BDC’s facility is currently permitted by DNREC to accept organic waste from approved poultry industry sources for composting. The proposed facility expansion would give BDC the capacity for receiving and processing up to 250,000 tons per year of permitted organic waste. In addition to the proposed anaerobic digestion system, the expansion plans also include construction of a wastewater pre-treatment system and a biogas upgrading plant. There is also a proposed emergency generator.

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    Byproducts from the process would include pipeline-grade renewable natural gas (RNG) and digestate, which would be dewatered and is proposed for use in the adjacent compost facility – or to be marketed in the future as a soil amendment that can be turned into compost (and which would require a distribution and marketing permit that is not part of the current proposed project and permit applications).

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    Specifically, information about each of the DNREC permits BDC has applied for include:

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    A resource recovery facility permit from the DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances to construct an anaerobic digestion system, biogas upgrading plant, and compost facility, designed to process poultry industry wastes into digestate, pipeline-grade renewable natural gas (RNG), and compost. Wastes the facility will accept include poultry litter, hatchery waste, dissolved air flotation (DAF) solid cake and liquid sludge, offal, waste activated sludge, and fats, oils, and greases.

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    Two 1102 Natural Minor air pollution permits from the DNREC Division of Air Quality to construct a natural gas-fired emergency generator with a standby power rating of 1,082 kilowatts (kW) (1,451 horsepower) and four anaerobic digesters with associated biogas upgrade and air pollution control equipment. The engine used in the proposed generator set is certified to comply with, and will be required to adhere to, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

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    Two wastewater facility construction permits from the DNREC Division of Water to construct an anaerobic digestion system and a wastewater pre-treatment system as part of the proposed resource recovery facility that processes poultry industry wastes into digestate, pipeline-grade renewable natural gas and compost. The anaerobic digestion system and wastewater pretreatment system will include three 0.208-million-gallon (MG) pretreatment tanks, and four 1.95 MG fermentation tanks, a Membrane Bioreactor System (MBR), a 0.198 MG anoxic tank, a 0.412 MG aerobic reactor, a 0.198 MG ultrafiltration feeding tank and ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis treatment systems. The treated wastewater will be pumped and hauled to the Seaford wastewater treatment and disposal facility. BDC plans for a future construction phase will eliminate the need to transport the wastewater via truck by constructing a sanitary sewer pump station and force main that will connect to a future city of Seaford force main located in front of the BDC biogas site on Seaford Road.

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    BDC’s permit applications and supporting materials can be found in detail on the DNREC website at de.gov/biodevco.

  • Delaware State Police Investigating Fatal Collision

    Delaware State Police Investigating Fatal Collision

    Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred in the Selbyville area on Thursday morning.

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    On August 18, 2022, at approximately 8:01 a.m., a gray 1999 Honda Civic was traveling westbound on McCabe Road approaching the intersection at Dupont Boulevard, where there is a posted stop sign for westbound traffic. At the same time, a white 2012 Toyota Rav-4 was traveling northbound on Dupont Boulevard approaching the intersection at McCabe Road. For unknown reasons, the driver of the Civic failed to remain stopped at the stop sign and proceeded to travel onto Dupont Boulevard and into the path of the Rav-4. As a result, the front center of the Toyota struck the left side of the Honda. Both vehicles traveled in a northwesterly direction until coming to rest in the southbound lanes of Dupont Boulevard.

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    The operator of the Honda Civic, a 28-year-old male from Frankford, DE, was properly restrained. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin. The operator of the Toyota Rav-4, a 24-year-old female from Rockaway, New Jersey, was properly restrained. She was transported via ambulance to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The passenger of the Rav-4, a 16-year-old female from Rockaway, New Jersey, was properly restrained. She was transported via ambulance to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

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    No other vehicles were involved in this incident. The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the collision was being investigated and cleared.

  • Troopers Arrest Subject For Assaulting Several Officers

    Troopers Arrest Subject For Assaulting Several Officers

    53-year-old Aaron Wharton of Millsboro, DE

    Delaware State Police have arrested 53-year-old Aaron Wharton of Millsboro, DE after he assaulted officers during an investigation that occurred in Millsboro on Monday evening.

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    On August 15, 2022, at approximately 6:34 p.m., troopers responded to a residence on the 20000 block of Laurel Road regarding a complaint of criminal mischief. A trooper arrived at the scene and attempted to contact the suspect of the complaint, later identified as Aaron Wharton, who was observed walking away from the area. Wharton then began running away from the scene when the trooper approached him on foot. The trooper gave chase and attempted to take Wharton into custody. However, Wharton threw dirt into the trooper’s eyes and struck the trooper in the face with his fists, causing injury. After he was taken into custody, Wharton continued to struggle with officers at the scene. Wharton kicked an assisting officer from the Selbyville Police Department and spit into the faces of two troopers.

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    Wharton refused medical treatment and was transported to Troop 4, where he was charged with the following crimes:

    • Assault Second Degree of a Law Enforcement Officer (Felony)
    • Resisting Arrest With Force or Violence (Felony)
    • Offensive Touching of a Law Enforcement Officer – 2 counts
    • Offensive Touching of Another With a Bodily Fluid – 2 counts
    • Criminal Mischief

    Wharton was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $32,200 cash bond.

  • First 2022 Delaware Evidence of Eastern EquineEncephalitis Detected in DNREC’s Sentinel Chickens

    First 2022 Delaware Evidence of Eastern Equine
    Encephalitis Detected in DNREC’s Sentinel Chickens

    Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-transmitted disease, has been detected in Delaware the first time for 2022 in a sentinel chicken, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Mosquito-transmitted virus detections in DNREC’s sentinel chickens are unrelated to Delaware’s poultry industry.

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    The EEE finding in northern New Castle County was from a sentinel chicken station sampled by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Mosquito Control section and confirmed by the Delaware Public Health Laboratory Aug. 9. While there have been no reported EEE cases in humans this year in the state, Delawareans are reminded that the possibility of contracting mosquito-transmitted diseases, including EEE and West Nile Virus (WNV), will continue until colder autumn temperatures in late-October or later.

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    The first EEE-positive sentinel chicken for this year adds to five WNV-positive sentinel chickens found earlier at three other sentinel chicken arbovirus monitoring stations in New Castle and Kent counties – with the first WNV finding occurring in early July. No EEE or WNV human cases have been reported to date in 2022 by the Delaware Public Health Laboratory, nor have any EEE or WNV equine cases been reported by the Delaware Department of Agriculture.   

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    Blood samples are collected by the Mosquito Control section each week from early July into October from the state’s outdoor-caged sentinel chickens that are humanely housed and handled at 20 monitoring stations statewide. The blood samples are tested for EEE and WNV antibodies by the Delaware Public Health Laboratory. Sentinel chickens bitten by mosquitoes carrying EEE or WNV develop antibodies to these diseases but are otherwise unaffected. Mosquitoes can transmit both WNV and EEE to humans and horses.

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    The public is reminded to take common-sense precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors in mosquito-prone areas, applying insect repellent containing 10 to 30% diethyltoluamide (DEET) in accordance with label instructions and avoiding mosquito-infested areas and at times of peak mosquito activity around dusk, dawn and at night.

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    Spraying to reduce mosquito populations in areas where EEE or WNV is detected may be initiated by DNREC’s Mosquito Control section as warranted, based on factors to include mosquito population levels and mosquito species present in affected areas. To reduce mosquito-breeding habitat and chances of disease transmission, residents should drain or remove outdoor items that collect water, such as discarded buckets or containers, uncovered trashcans, stagnant birdbaths, unprotected rain barrels or cisterns, old tires, upright wheelbarrows, flowerpot liners, depressions in boat tarps, clogged rain gutters, corrugated downspout extenders and unused swimming pools.

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    While EEE is rarer than WNV, both EEE and WNV can adversely affect people and horses. Most people who become infected with EEE virus and WNV show either no or mild symptoms. Early symptoms in people contracting EEE or WNV can be similar, but EEE often becomes more pronounced and debilitating, manifested by meningitis or encephalitis typically resulting in hospitalizations. EEE has a higher human mortality rate of approximately 30%, with infants, children and the elderly most vulnerable, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms  in people infected with EEE usually start from four to 10 days after being bitten by a mosquito infected with EEE. Early EEE symptoms can include headache, high fever, stiff neck, tremors or muscle weakness, with more severe cases progressing to stupor, disorientation, coma, convulsions, paralysis and possibly death. Most people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms, but about 20% can develop a mild illness, including fever, body and muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, and rash symptoms. A small number of people infected with WNV can develop serious illness involving neurological problems, paralysis and possibly death. There are no human vaccines for EEE or WNV. Anyone developing the symptoms described above should see their healthcare provider.

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    Horse owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if they suspect their horse may be showing signs of WNV or EEE. Symptoms of EEE in horses include fever (102.5-104.5°F), loss of appetite, head pressing, depression or personality change, wobbling or staggering, weakness, blindness, convulsions, muscle tremors in the head and neck or hind-limb weakness. These signs are also consistent with WNV, although a fever may or may not be present with WNV.

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    Additional information about mosquitoes and mosquito-transmitted diseases is available from the following resources:

    • For mosquito biology/ecology and control, contact the Mosquito Control section office in Dover at 302-739-9917.
    • For requests for mosquito relief in upstate areas from Dover north, contact Mosquito Control’s Glasgow field office at 302-836-2555.
    • For requests for mosquito relief in downstate areas south of Dover, contact Mosquito Control’s Milford field office at 302-422-1512.
    • For animal health questions, contact the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4500.
    • To report suspected cases of human EEE or WNV, call the Division of Public Health Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology toll-free at 888-295-5156.
    • For more information on Eastern Equine Encephalitis or West Nile Virus, visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.    
  • Selbyville Man arrested on Numerous Charges After Assault

    Selbyville Man arrested on Numerous Charges After Assault

    Robert L. Belbol (19)

    The Selbyville Police Department arrested a Selbyville man for Driving a Vehicle Under the influence of Alcohol, Terroristic Threatening, Vehicular Assault 1st Degree (DUI Related), and Assault 1st Degree.

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    On August 5, 2022, the Selbyville Police Department responded to a home on Reef Drive in Selbyville, Delaware within the municipal limits of the Town of Selbyville and within the Selbyville Police Department jurisdiction.

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    Upon police arrival, all involved parties were separated.

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    Responding officers completed an investigation and ascertained Robert L. Belbol and a family member were inside a vehicle and had been arguing over an unknown incident that occurred prior to police contact. For an unknown reason, Belbol threatened to kill the said family member and then retrieved a cutting instrument from under the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Belbol proceeded to wave said cutting instrument in a threatening manner towards said family member ultimately resulting in a significant laceration to the family member’s upper arm. The family member attempted to exit the vehicle but was unable to do so without his injured arm being trapped in the vehicle door. While the family member’s arm was trapped in the vehicle door Belbol accelerated causing the family member’s arm to break in numerous places and eventually be pulled free from the vehicle.

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    Officers located Belbol in the driver seat of a running vehicle parked in the driveway of a home on Reef Drive in Selbyville, Delaware. Upon being contacted a strong odor of alcohol was emanating from Belbol. Field sobriety tests were completed which resulted in a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .251%. Belbol was interviewed about this incident; he admitted to his intoxication and involvement in a significant altercation with a family member. Belbol alleged he requested the family member leave his vehicle mid-altercation, but the family member refused which resulted in more serious actions occurring.

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    Belbol was seen by the Justice of the Peace Court 3 which resulted in a committal to Sussex Correctional Institution with a $23,100 Cash Only Bail pending adjudication.

  • Troopers Arrest Subject on Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop

    Troopers Arrest Subject on Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop

    43-year-old Caheim Drake of Salisbury, Maryland

    Delaware State Police have arrested 43-year-old Caheim Drake of Salisbury, Maryland on felony drug charges following a traffic stop that was conducted in Viola on Friday evening.

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    On August 5, 2022, at approximately 10:00 p.m., troopers on patrol observed a black 2018 Acura TLX traveling southbound on South Dupont Highway approaching Viola. Troopers noticed that the driver of the Acura failed to utilize his turn signal when he conducted a lane change. A traffic stop was initiated on South Dupont Highway in the area of East Evens Road and contact was made with the operator of the vehicle, identified as Caheim Drake. During the stop, a Delaware State Police canine conducted a free-air scan of the Acura. The canine alerted to the presence of an odor of narcotics, and Drake was searched at the scene. Troopers discovered that Drake was in possession of approximately 84.24 grams of cocaine and approximately 3.02 grams of marijuana.

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    Drake was taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop 3, where he was charged with the following offenses:

    • Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 3 Quantity (Felony)
    • Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 3 Quantity (Felony)
    • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
    • Possession of Marijuana
    • Failure to Signal

    Drake was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $80,102 secured bond.

  • Dover Police Issue AMBER Alert For Missing 17-year-old

    Dover Police Issue AMBER Alert For Missing 17-year-old

    Taniyah Quail-Marker
    Dover, DE
    SIMILAR Vehicle
    Taniyah is believed to be in a blue Nissan Versa with Alaska tags: JPL799.

    The Dover Police Department has issued an AMBER Alert for Taniyah Quail-Marker, a 17-year-old female from Dover. Taniyah Quail-Marker left a relative’s residence at approximately midnight on August 9th with a male subject. Attempts to contact Taniyah Quail-Marker or locate her have been unsuccessful. Based on evidence obtained at this point in the investigation, it is believed that Taniyah Quail-Marker’s safety may be at risk and that her missing status may not be voluntary. Taniyah was last seen wearing a blue cookie monster shirt, shorts, and white crocs. Taniyah was last seen with a light skinny black male, dreadlocks, wearing dark clothing, inside of a blue Nissan Versa with Alaska registration JPL799. Taniyah is described as a black female, 5’04”, approximately 240 pounds. A recent photo of Taniyah and a picture of what the vehicle may look like are below.

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    If you have any information regarding this case please contact your local law enforcement agency or dial 911 immediately.

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    Taniyah is believed to be in a blue Nissan Versa with Alaska tags: JPL799

  • DNREC, DelDOT To Deploy New EV Charging Stations Along State’s Major Travel Routes Via BIL Initiative Funding

    DNREC, DelDOT To Deploy New EV Charging Stations Along State’s Major Travel Routes Via BIL Initiative Funding

    Delaware plans to locate 11 multi-car, fast-charging electric vehicle charging stations along major travel routes followed by an expansion of EV charging stations into communities over the next five years as part of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) initiative to dramatically expand EV charging across the country.

    .

    Under an initial plan submitted to the federal government July 29 jointly by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Delaware proposes to utilize almost $18 million in federal funds to:

    • In a first phase, locate five new charging stations around the state, meeting a requirement with the BIL funding that EV charging stations be available at least every 50 miles along major travel routes identified by the federal government: I-95, SR 1, U.S. 13 and U.S. 113. Subject to additional data and public input, the general targeted areas are the I-95 Biden Welcome Center near Newark, Dover, Rehoboth Beach, Laurel and Selbyville.
    • In a second phase, locate six additional charging stations in additional areas along the identified corridors, meeting a state goal of every-25-mile availability. Subject to additional data and public input, the general targeted areas are Middletown, Smyrna, Harrington, Milford, Bridgeville and Georgetown.
    • In a third phase, locate charging stations in high-density residential areas, focusing on areas with multi-family housing and/or street parking in areas that may not otherwise have convenient charging options. 

    The operators and exact locations of the EV stations in the general identified areas would be chosen through a competitive process after additional planning and public input. EV drivers would pay for the use of the chargers.

    .

    The initial state plan is part of the National Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program that aims to place half a million new EV charging stations across the country by 2030, making it easier and more predictable to travel in electric vehicles. NEVI includes requirements that the charging stations along major highway corridors be “DC fast chargers” capable of charging at least four vehicles at a time, operate 24 hours a day, and use common payment platforms.

    .

    NEVI is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021 and championed by U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester.

    .

    “Tailpipe emissions from our vehicles are the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions both here in Delaware and across the country. Making it easier for Delawareans to choose to drive electric is a key strategy in Delaware’s Climate Action Plan,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The federal funding made available through the NEVI program accelerates our efforts in Delaware to not just reduce transportation emissions, but improve air quality in our communities, improve public health and expand transportation choices.”

    .

    DelDOT Secretary Nicole Majeski said installing charging stations here and around the country will increase consumer confidence that purchasing an electric vehicle is a practical choice, and is good for Delaware. “Increased temperatures, sea level rise and more frequent and intense storms and flooding take a toll on our transportation network,” Majeski said. “Accelerating our transition to cleaner transportation is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    .

    Further development of the plan will include engagement from industry, environmental and community stakeholders. The submitted NEVI plan and other information about creating support for EVs in Delaware can be found at https://deldot.gov/Programs/NEVI/index.shtml.

    .

    The NEVI funding is one of several funding opportunities and activities the State will utilize in a broader effort to encourage electric vehicle use. Gov. John Carney’s administration has supported electric vehicles by offering rebates for the purchase or lease of electric vehicles through DNREC’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program and incentives for the installation of public, fleet, workplace and multi-family charging stations through DNREC’s Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Rebate Program.

  • Troopers Warn Public About Leaving Cars Unattended While Idling

    Troopers Warn Public About Leaving Cars Unattended While Idling

    The Delaware State Police would like to warn the public about leaving their cars unattended and unlocked while idling.

    .

    Delaware State Police Criminal Investigative Units have recently been handling numerous vehicle thefts occurring throughout the State of Delaware.  A large majority of the thefts have occurred at gas station and convenience store parking lots where a vehicle was left unattended, idling, and unlocked. Victims often leave their car running while they go into a store to make a purchase. Investigations show that suspects will specifically look for and target unattended vehicles idling in parking lots.

    .

    Additionally, 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. For a first offense, a fine of $25.00 – $75.00 can be imposed.

    .

    The Delaware State Police remind everyone to Lock It… or Lose It.

  • State Police Arrest Subject for Assaulting Trooper

    State Police Arrest Subject for Assaulting Trooper

    28-year-old Wade Wilson of Millsboro, DE

    Delaware State Police have arrested 28-year-old Wade Wilson of Millsboro, DE for felony assault and other charges following an investigation that began on Monday afternoon.

    .

    On August 1, 2022, at approximately 12:07 p.m., troopers responded to the area of Webbs Lane in Dover regarding a stolen motor vehicle. Troopers were advised that a gold 2009 Ford Crown Victoria was at this location, which had been reported overnight as stolen. A trooper contacted the occupant of the parked sedan, who was later identified as Wade Wilson. Wilson refused to comply with the trooper’s commands, and he subsequently placed the vehicle in drive and began accelerating forward. Wilson dragged the trooper with his vehicle until the trooper struck a tree. The vehicle then collided with a sign and came to a stop in a grassy area. Wilson exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. The trooper was treated at an area hospital for several physical injuries sustained during the encounter.

    .

    Wilson was later apprehended and taken into custody by Dover Police Department on Monday evening after officers responded to a report of a suspicious person on Mimosa Avenue. Wilson was transported to Troop 3 and charged with the following crimes:

    • Assault Second Degree (Felony)
    • Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)
    • Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 (Felony)
    • Resisting Arrest With Force or Violence (Felony)

    Wilson was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $10,000 cash bond.

  • TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARM

    TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARM

    Dontwain Cornish

    On Sunday, July 31, 2022, at approximately 1:30 AM, officers from the Dewey Beach Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Coastal Highway, in the area of King Charles Avenue, for a motor vehicle violation. The operator of the vehicle was identified as Dontwain Cornish (24 of Milford, DE). During the investigation marijuana was observed in plain view and Cornish admitted to having a concealed firearm in the vehicle. The officers recovered a SAR 9 mm handgun which was fully loaded; another fully loaded magazine was also recovered. Cornish was placed into custody and taken to the Dewey Beach Police Department. He was charged with Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon and was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court #3 located in Georgetown Delaware. He was released on his own recognizance. Cornish was also cited on traffic charges related to this incident.

  • *Update – Victim Identified* Delaware State Police Homicide Unit Conducting Criminal Investigation

    *Update – Victim Identified* Delaware State Police Homicide Unit Conducting Criminal Investigation

    Staytonville Road west of North Union Church Road

    UPDATE: 8/3/2022

    Delaware State Police have identified the victim who was found deceased in Lincoln on July 31, 2022 as Jose Santiago-Zamora Jimenez, 40, of Charlotte, North Carolina.

    .

    The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is currently conducting a criminal investigation in the Lincoln area that began on Sunday morning.

    .

    On July 31, 2022, at approximately 1:30 a.m., troopers responded to the area of Staytonville Road west of North Union Church Road for a report of a subject lying near the roadway. Troopers arrived on-scene and discovered an unknown male subject deceased at this location. The male subject has yet to be identified, and the investigation is still ongoing at this time.

    .

    The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective A. Bluto by calling 302-741-2859. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police, by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, or via the internet at www.delawarecrimestoppers.com.

  • Delaware State Police Investigating Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision In Milton

    Delaware State Police Investigating Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision In Milton

    Milton Ellendale Highway approaching the intersection at Mulberry Street

    Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred in Milton on Saturday morning.

    .

    On July 30, 2022, at approximately 7:04 a.m., a silver 2014 Toyota Corolla was traveling eastbound on Milton Ellendale Highway approaching the intersection at Mulberry Street. At the same time, a gray 2016 Chevrolet Colorado was traveling westbound on Milton Ellendale Highway approaching the same intersection. The Colorado began turning left onto southbound Mulberry Street and entered the path of travel of the Corolla. As a result, the front left of the Chevrolet struck the left side of the Toyota in the intersection. This caused both vehicles to rotate counterclockwise, with the Corolla coming to rest in a grassy area off the south edge of the roadway and the Colorado coming to rest in the eastbound lane of Milton Ellendale Highway.

    .

    The operator of the Colorado, a 24-year-old male from Lewes, DE, was properly restrained and was not injured during the collision. The driver of the Corolla, a 20-year-old female from Woodbridge, Virginia, was properly restrained. She was transported via ambulance to an area hospital where she was later pronounced deceased. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin. The front-right passenger of the Toyota, a 28-year-old male from Hyattsville, Maryland, was properly restrained and was transported to an area hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The rear-left passenger of the Corolla, a 19-year-old female from Woodbridge, Virginia, was properly restrained and was airlifted via helicopter to an area hospital in serious but stable condition. The rear-right passenger of the Toyota, a 20-year-old male from Woodbridge, Virginia, was properly restrained and was not injured.

    .

    No other vehicles were involved in this incident. The roadway was closed for approximately 3.5 hours while the collision was being investigated and cleared.

  • DNREC Seeks Volunteers for Delaware Coastal Cleanup Saturday, Sept. 17

    DNREC Seeks Volunteers for Delaware Coastal Cleanup Saturday, Sept. 17

    The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is hosting the 35th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at 41 sites statewide to help keep the state’s beaches and waterways free of trash. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for the one-day coordinated event when online volunteer registration opens on Monday, Aug. 1.

    .

    In addition, Delawareans and visitors are invited to join the month-long campaign starting Sept. 1 to clean up neighborhoods, green spaces and waterways throughout the state on days, times and at locations of their choice. The coordinated event and month-long campaign support Governor John Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free initiative.

    .

    “In 2019, we launched the Keep DE Litter Free initiative with the goal of building stronger communities and working together to keep our state beautiful by keeping our coastlines and outdoor spaces clear of litter,” Governor Carney said. “I thank our other state and local partners who plan and support the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, and I encourage all Delawareans to participate on cleanup day – and all year round.”

    .

    “DNREC encourages all Delawareans and visitors to make time to help keep our beaches, waterways and wetlands clean and free of trash throughout the year,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The Coastal Cleanup is a great reminder that volunteers of all ages can make a difference, whether they sign up for the Sept. 17 statewide cleanup event or choose their own time, date and place to pick up trash.”

    .

    For the Sept. 17 coordinated cleanup, volunteers should sign up by Wednesday, Aug. 31 for their choice of sites through the Coastal Cleanup page at de.gov/coastalcleanup. Site captains with supplies will be on site to sign in volunteers and provide trash bags and directions. Although gloves, paper data cards and pencils will be available upon request, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and to use the online Coastal Cleanup reporting tool, when it goes live Sept. 1, to share their findings. Walkups are not encouraged due to volunteer site capacity limitations.

    .

    Find ideas about how to get involved in the 2022 Delaware Coastal Cleanup on Facebook and Twitter. Volunteers in both the coordinated event on Sept. 17 and the month-long campaign can post photos on facebook.com/DelawareDNREC for a chance to win a 2023 Delaware State Parks pass and a prize bag. Volunteers can post photos as often as they like throughout the month, with each photo counting as a one entry. All volunteers should also report their findings and are invited to share photos through the Coastal Cleanup page. Results will be updated during all month long and will appear on an interactive map.

    .

    Last year, nearly 600 volunteers filled about 400 bags, cleaning up 5,500 pounds of trash from waterways, wetlands and other natural areas. The top five trash items collected were: 7,671 cigarette butts; 2,921 plastic and glass beverage bottles and cans; 1,785 food containers; 846 plastic bags; and 381 balloons.

    .

    Cleaning up locally makes a big difference statewide and keeps trash from entering waterways and making its way to beaches and beyond. DNREC suggests several ways to help make a difference all year long:

    • Be proactive by picking up trash near your home to keep your neighborhood clean.
    • Follow a carry-in/carry out plan and take all trash with you when visiting outdoor spaces, like Delaware State Parks, DNREC wildlife areas, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve locations, and county or local parks.
    • Pack a bag and rubber gloves when you take a walk, go for a hike, go hunting or fishing, etc., to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.
    • Recycle applicable items through in-home recycling or designated drop-off locations. Learn more at de.gov/recycling.

    DNREC reminds everyone to wear gloves when picking up trash, wash hands thoroughly after cleanup activities, and follow all recent public area protocols, including the most current COVID-19 guidance.

  • Delaware State Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Sussex County Woman

    Delaware State Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Sussex County Woman

    59-year-old Wendy Kovin of Rehoboth Beach

    Delaware State Police Troop 7 is issuing a Gold Alert for 59-year-old Wendy Kovin of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Wendy was last contacted in the early morning hours of July 28, 2022, in the Rehoboth Beach area. Attempts to contact or locate Wendy have been unsuccessful, and there is a concern for her safety and well-being.

    .

    Wendy is described as a white female, approximately 5’5” tall, 200 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. She has an unknown clothing description.

    .

    Anyone with information regarding Wendy’s whereabouts can contact Delaware State Police Troop 7 by calling 302-644-5020 or dialing 9-1-1. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delawarecrimestoppers.com.

  • Governor Carney Signs Multiple Pieces of Legislation Related to Maternal and Infant Health

    Governor Carney Signs Multiple Pieces of Legislation Related to Maternal and Infant Health

    Governor Carney signed multiple pieces of legislation on Monday related to maternal and infant health aimed at decreasing infant and maternal mortality and expanding services to communities across the state. The series of legislation will improve health outcomes for families and infants throughout Delaware.

    .

    “This package of legislation is important for our community,” said Governor Carney. “Every child deserves a first chance to succeed and every mother and family should feel supported throughout and after a pregnancy. These bills will help address infant and maternal mortality in our community and expand services to families across the state. Thank you to Representative Minor-Brown, Senator Pinkney and other members of the General Assembly for their leadership on these pieces of legislation. Thank you to the health care providers and the advocates for the work they do every day.”

    .

    The United States has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among high-income countries and wide disparities by race that have been documented since rates separated by race were first published in 1935.

    .

    “As a nurse and a Black woman, I am extremely aware of the maternal and infant health issues affecting Delaware families, particularly Black mothers and babies. I personally experienced preventable complications during both of my pregnancies, as an 18-year-old and as a 30-year-old registered nurse,” said Representative Melissa Minor-Brown, who was the lead House sponsor of all six bills. “Black women made up one of every four women giving birth in Delaware between 2011 and 2018, but they made up half of the mothers who died in childbirth. These are more than statistics; they are mothers and children who leave behind loved ones. These new laws are designed to help all Delaware mothers and infants, to improve their outcomes and increase their chances for a successful and healthy pregnancy, birthing process and postpartum. Taken together, these laws will make a huge impact on Delaware families across the state by breaking down barriers to vital healthcare treatment and removing other obstacles that mothers and families have faced.”

    .

    “I am incredibly proud of this package of legislation, both as a Black woman and as a social worker. All too often, I see patients without adequate insurance who can’t afford to keep up with their recommended care plans once they are discharged,” said Senator Marie Pinkney. “I have seen patients who have been discriminated against based on their race, their gender identity and their substance use. I have seen the difference in outcomes between birthing mothers who had access to a doula and those who did not. As lawmakers, we must do everything in our power to make it easier for new mothers to focus on birthing healthy children and then to advocate for their prenatal and postpartum needs. These bills will remove barriers and reduce disparities for all future generations of Delaware mothers.”

    .

    House Bill 340 revamps the Child Death Review Commission to include more focus on maternal concerns. The commission will be renamed the Maternal and Child Death Review Commission to reflect its existing dual focus. The definition of “maternal death” will also be updated and the Commission would reflect diverse membership that would include a midwife and one maternal and one child advocate from statewide non-profit organizations. In an effort to be transparent, the group will be required to publicly post its draft report and accept written public comment.

    .

    “The Child Death Review Commission is a critical function of our state’s judiciary,” said Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend. “By expanding its scope to focus on maternal issues, we may better understand some of the social determinants of health that affect pregnancy and the following months of postpartum recovery.”

    .

    House Bill 344(S) requires the Delaware Perinatal Quality Collaborative to establish a subcommittee to develop bias and cultural competency training for healthcare employees. The subcommittee will develop training guidelines designed for use in all healthcare fields and shall release the initial guidelines by July 1, 2023. The subcommittee will review data every year thereafter and revise the guidelines as necessary.

    .

    “Delaware has world class health care providers, but they are also human. The only way to build a health care system that works for everyone is to ensure that our providers are provided the opportunity to grow, to fill knowledge gaps, and to address biases that they may not even be aware they hold,” said Senator Sarah McBride. “I’m proud to have supported the entire Momnibus package, but I’m particularly thrilled to have joined with Rep. Minor-Brown on HB 344 to empower more providers with the information and resources they need to alleviate patient fears and offer the best possible care to every patient no matter their background.”

    .

    House Bill 342 expands existing restrictions on the use of restraints on women who are giving birth or in labor to include pregnant women and those in the 13-week post-partum period.

    .

    House Bill 345 ensures pregnant women or women who have given birth within the past six weeks who are subject to the custody of the Department of Corrections at Level IV or V have access to midwifery and doula services by requiring the department to make reasonable accommodations for provision of available midwifery or doula services.

    .

    House Bill 343 requires the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance to present a plan to the General Assembly by November 1 for coverage of doula services by Medicaid providers. The services will be provided by a trained doula designed to provide physical, emotional, and educational support to pregnant and birthing persons before, during, and after childbirth. This will include support and assistance during labor and childbirth, prenatal and postpartum support and education, breastfeeding assistance, and parenting education.

    .

    House Bill 234 requires the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months from the end of pregnancy through the state plan amendment option created by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

  • Victim Identified* Delaware State Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash

    Victim Identified* Delaware State Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash

    UPDATE: Delaware State Police have identified the victim who died during a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on July 24, 2022, in the Dewey Beach area as Sidney Wolf, 43, of Clarksburg, Maryland.

    Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred early Sunday morning on southbound Coastal Highway (Route 1) in the area of Anchors Way, Dewey Beach, DE.

    On July 24, 2022, at approximately 1:44 a.m., the victim and five of his friends hired a “Lyft” driver to pick them up in Dewey Beach and transport them back to their residence in Bethany Beach. As the group was traveling southbound on Coastal Highway all in the same vehicle, a disagreement occurred between the group and the Lyft operator. The Lyft operator terminated the ride and stopped in the middle of the southbound left lane and demanded all six passengers exit the vehicle. At this time, a 2016 Toyota Corolla, operated by a 27-year-old male was traveling southbound on Coastal Highway in the left lane approaching the stopped Lyft vehicle (possibly a white Honda Pilot). As the operator changed lanes to avoid striking the rear of the Lyft vehicle, he failed to see the pedestrian who had just exited the right rear passenger seat and was standing in the roadway. As a result, the left front of Corolla struck the pedestrian. After impact, the Corolla immediately pulled over on the southbound shoulder and came to a controlled stop. The Lyft vehicle fled southbound on Coastal Highway immediately after the crash.

    The 43-year-old male pedestrian victim of Clarksburg, MD was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin.

    The other 5 passengers were not injured after exiting the Lyft vehicle.

    The roadway was closed for approximately 4 hours while the collision was investigated and roadway cleared.

    The operator or the Lyft vehicle has not been identified yet and remains under investigation

  • Milton Man Arrested For Felony Theft from Lewes Harbour Marina

    Milton Man Arrested For Felony Theft from Lewes Harbour Marina

    Thomas J. Serbin (51)

    A Milton man has been arrested for felony theft after he allegedly stole hundreds of fishing rods, reels and other equipment from Lewes Harbour Marina over the last several years.

    Thomas J. Serbin (51) was a longtime employee at Lewes Harbour Marina, serving the last two years as store manager. On July 2, Lewes Police received a complaint alleging Serbin had stolen a large number of items from the business.

    Police obtained a warrant and searched Serbin’s home on July 12, when they found 115 fishing rods, 125 high-end fishing reels, more than 50,000 yards of high-end fishing line, hundreds of saltwater fishing lures and other tackle, and other fishing equipment and merchandise. The estimated value of the items is more than $100,000.

    Serbin was charged with felony theft and released on bail.

    The Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the case for an upgrade of charges. Police suspect, he was bartering and selling the items.

    Lewes Police continue to investigate the case. Anyone who received property from Serbin is asked to contact Lewes Police at 302-645-6264 or Lewes Harbour Marina at 302-645-6227. Police say anything received that Serbin may have said was gifted to him or a promotional item from manufacturers is likely stolen.

  • Arrest Made in Connection with Body Located in Saint Jones River

    Arrest Made in Connection with Body Located in Saint Jones River

    The Dover Police Department has made an arrest in connection with the discovery of a body, later identified as Jorge Valladares (30), in the Saint Jones River on July 2nd, 2022. During the investigation, information was obtained that Valladares’ death was possibly the result of a motor vehicle accident. On June 22nd, 2022, officers from the Dover Police Department responded to East Water Street for a single vehicle crash that was approximately 225 off the roadway at 4:17 a.m. The crash involved a red 2013 Jeep Wrangler. While investigating the crash, the driver and a passenger provided conflicting information about the crash, to include the number of persons in the vehicle at the time of the crash, ultimately telling officers there were only two people inside the car. Officers checked the surrounding area and did not locate any additional evidence or persons.

    Both the driver (Luis Coello, 30) and the 41-year-old male passenger were both transported to Bayhealth Kent Campus for treatment of non-life threatening injuries from the crash.

    During the investigation, it was discovered that the crash had actually occurred on June 21st at 11:21 p.m. The first call to police did not occur until 4:17 a.m., nearly a 5 hour delay.

    A review of evidence obtained from the vehicle and surveillance footage from nearby businesses showed that the Jeep Wrangler was traveling eastbound on Water Street, approaching a sharp left curve (in front of Del-One Federal Credit Union). The Jeep did not brake and drove over the curb, traveled down an embankment, turning over multiple times. Evidence obtained from the vehicle shows that none of the three occupants were wearing seatbelts. It is believed that Valladares was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the Saint Jones River. Autopsy results show that Valladares’ had traumatic head injuries as a result of the crash.

    During the 5-hours between the crash and the first notification to police, Valladares’ body moved a significant distance as the result of the river’s current. Valladares’ body was located on July 2nd by a group of kayakers, approximately 197 meters from where he likely entered the river.

    At no point in the investigation did the driver or passenger of the vehicle advised police that Valladares was also in the vehicle.

    During the initial crash investigation, Cuello (30) was charged with Driving Under the Influence and additional traffic offenses.

    As a result of the investigation following the discovery of Valladares’ body, Cuello was also charged with Vehicular Homicide 2nd Degree. Cuello was arrested in Newark without incident and committed to SCI on a $7,000 secured bond.

    A mugshot of Cuello was not available at the time of release. Cuello is a resident of Newark, DE.

  • 110 MPH Macroburst confirmed in Caroline, Kent, And Sussex Counties Tuesday

    110 MPH Macroburst confirmed in Caroline, Kent, And Sussex Counties Tuesday

    • Andrew Larimore – Harrington, DE
    • Christy Vanderwende – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Dylan Hanson – Denton, MD
    • Gina Bergey – Denton, MD
    • Gina Beregy – Denton, MD
    • Heather Byler – Harrington, DE
    • Heather Byler – Harrington, DE
    • Jerika Kraft – Denton, MD
    • Kenneth Gregg – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
445 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2022

...NWS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FOR JULY 12TH, 2022 THUNDERSTORM WIND EVENT...

.DENTON-HOBBS-ANDREWSVILLE-FARMINGTON MACROBURST...

PEAK WIND ESTIMATED:	110 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  18 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   4 MILES
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               1

START DATE:             JULY 12, 2022
START TIME:             7:22 PM EDT
START LOCATION:         1.5 MILES SW DENTON, CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND
START LAT/LON:          38.86/-75.85

END DATE:               JULY 12, 2022
END TIME:               7:57 PM EDT
END LOCATION:           4 MILES E FARMINGTON, SUSSEX COUNTY, DELAWARE
END LAT/LON:            38.87/-75.50

A MACROBURST BEGAN AROUND 7:22 PM EDT ABOUT 1.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF 
DENTON, MD IN CAROLINE COUNTY ALONG THE CHOPTANK RIVER. THE FIRST 
AREA IMPACTED BY THE MACROBURST WAS AT MARTINAK STATE PARK WHERE 
NUMEROUS TREES WERE DAMAGED. ONE TREE FELL ONTO A CAMPING TRAILER IN 
THE CAMPGROUND RESULTING IN ONE MINOR INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT. A 
PERSONAL WEATHER STATION JUST NORTH OF THE STATE PARK MEASURED A 70 
MPH WIND GUST. THE PARENT STORM TRAVELED EASTWARD AND IMPACTED THE 
HOBBS, MD AREA THEN CROSSED INTO FAR SOUTHWESTERN KENT COUNTY IN 
DELAWARE WHERE IT CONTINUED TOWARD THE ANDREWSVILLE, DE AND 
FARMINGTON, DE AREAS. ALONG THIS PATH, NUMEROUS AREAS SUSTAINED 
CONSIDERABLE TREE AND UTILITY POLE DAMAGE ALONG WITH SOME 
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. NUMEROUS TREES WERE UPROOTED OR SNAPPED AND SOME 
UTILITIES POLES WERE SNAPPED. A FEW STRUCTURES SUSTAINED 
CONSIDERABLE ROOF MATERIAL AND ROOF STRUCTURE REMOVAL, INCLUDING A 
FEW BARNS, FARM OUTHOUSES, AND CHICKEN HOUSES. AN UNUSED GRAIN SILO 
AND A RESIDENTIAL TV ANTENNA TOWER WERE COLLAPSED. ONE HOME HAD A 
COUPLE WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. THE STORM CONTINUED EASTWARD INTO NORTHERN 
SUSSEX COUNTY EAST OF US ROUTE 13 WHERE IT BEGAN TO WEAKEN 
CONSIDERABLY BY 7:57 PM EDT.

THE STRONGEST WIND GUSTS RESULTING IN THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 110 MPH.
  • Delaware State Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Georgetown Man

    Delaware State Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Georgetown Man

    30-year-old Matthew Cornwell of Georgetown, DE

    Delaware State Police Troop 4 is issuing a Gold Alert for 30-year-old Matthew Cornwell of Georgetown, DE. Cornwell was last seen on July 11, 2022 at approximately 9:00 a.m. in the Georgetown, DE area. Attempts to contact or locate Cornwell have been unsuccessful, and there is a concern for his safety and well-being.

    Cornwell is described as a white male, approximately 5’09” tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Cornwell has the sides of his head buzzed and the rest of his hair pulled into a ponytail.

    Anyone with information regarding Matthew Cornwell’s whereabouts is asked to contact Delaware State Police Troop 4 by calling 302-856-5850 or by dialing 9-1-1. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police, contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, or via the internet at www.delawarecrimestoppers.com.

  • Troopers Arrest Subject for Felony DUI and Drug Charges

    Troopers Arrest Subject for Felony DUI and Drug Charges

    Robert Lecates of Laurel, DE

    Delaware State Police have arrested 38-year-old Robert Lecates of Laurel, DE for felony DUI and narcotics offenses following an investigation that began in the Laurel area on Tuesday morning.

    On July 12, 2022, at approximately 12:04 a.m., troopers responded to the Oasis Travel Plaza located at 30759 Sussex Highway regarding a suspicious vehicle. Officers were informed that a car had been idling at a gas pump for approximately 45 minutes without anyone exiting or entering the vehicle. Upon arrival troopers contacted Robert Lecates, who was seated and unconscious in the driver’s seat of a gray 2017 Honda Civic. Lecates displayed signs of impairment and a DUI investigation ensued. Lecates was subsequently taken into custody at the scene without incident. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 0.686 grams of suspected heroin, approximately 3.87 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1.70 grams of MDMA, approximately 0.61 grams of an unknown white powdery substance, and drug paraphernalia. Computer checks of Lecates revealed that he has a suspended driver’s license and two prior convictions for DUI.

    Lecates was transported to Troop 5 and charged with the following offenses:

    • Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 4 counts
    • 3rd Offense Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence (Felony)
    • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
    • Driving While Suspended / Revoked

    Lecates was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $22,750 secured bond.

  • Destructive Straight Line Winds Slammed Delmarva On Tuesday. 90-100 MPH Winds Estimated

    Destructive Straight Line Winds Slammed Delmarva On Tuesday. 90-100 MPH Winds Estimated

    • Andrew Larimore – Harrington, DE
    • Christy Vanderwende – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Dylan Hanson – Denton, MD
    • Gina Bergey – Denton, MD
    • Gina Beregy – Denton, MD
    • Heather Byler – Harrington, DE
    • Heather Byler – Harrington, DE
    • Jerika Kraft – Denton, MD
    • Kenneth Gregg – Harrington, DE
    • Kenneth Gregg – Harrington, DE
    • Laura Larimore – Greenwood/Denton
    • Laura Larimore – Harrington, DE
    • Melinda Geisel – American Legion Denton, MD
    • Stephanie Knutsen – Harrington, DE
    • Tiffany Clarie – Harrington, DE
    • William Thomas – Western Sussex
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE
    • Delaware Electric COOP – Harrington, DE

    2022 Severe Weather Season on Delmarva keeps delivering more and more destructive thunderstorms as the year goes on. From freak destructive hail across Dorchester and Wicomico counties back in May, Tornadoes in Western Maryland, to now one of the most destructive high wind events in several years across Caroline, Kent, and Sussex Counties.

    Radar Loop From KDOX radar 7-8pm

    So let’s dig into the atmosphere across the region on Tuesday. On Monday models where not handling the environment well what so ever with only a few isolated strong storms. It took until Tuesday morning to understand the environment was very conductive of a localized severe weather outbreak. If there was a checklist of what ingredients are needed to support destructive downburst winds, we had all the boxes checked for yesterday. We had very steep mid and low level lapse rates which is a combination alone supports great mixing of the atmosphere. A lapse rate is the rate of temperature change with height. The faster the temperature decreases with height, the “steeper” the lapse rate and the more “unstable” the atmosphere becomes. Plenty of moisture to work with the atmosphere with PWAT values exceeding 2 inches region wide. Precipitable water is the amount of water potentially available in the atmosphere for precipitation, usually measured in a vertical column that extends from the Earth’s surface to the upper edge of the troposphere.

    • Steep Mid Level Lapse Rates 700-500mb
    • Steep Low Level Lapse Rates – SFC – 700mb
    • High PWATS Exceeding 2 Inches
    • Unstable Enviroment of 1500 j/kg MLCAPE
    • 30-50 KTS Wind Shear

    High moisture content within thunderstorm increases the chances for wet microbursts. A microburst is a localized column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter. Microbursts can cause extensive damage at the surface, and in some instances, can be life-threatening. We had enough instability in the atmosphere both at the surface level and into the mid portions of the atmosphere. CAPE values (Convective Available Potential Energy) were on the order of 1500 j/kg in the mid portions of the atmosphere and surface based CAPE on the order of 3000 j/kg. Those values indicate we have a modestly unstable airmass in place for vigorous thunderstorm development. And finally we have wind shear. With a trough digging in across the region we had sufficient wind shear up to 50kts to help sculpt and give these storms structure, as well as a source of stronger winds to tap into.

    Diagram of Downbursts/Microbursts

    Now that we got the environment sampled from yesterday, lets dive into the storm that caused prolific damage from Denton to Farmington.

    Radar around 7:24pm Near Denton, MD

    Our damage path started when we had a well defined line of storms started moving across Talbot county before moving into Caroline County around 7pm. Watching from the radar perspective, I started to notice a big increase in radar returns using Base Velocity. This tool is used to sample wind speeds within storms and they were accelerating very quickly southwest of Denton. I knew at that moment we got some major issues on our hands. I sent out a alert to residents from Denton to Farmington to seek a sturdy shelter immediately knowing we have significant Microburst in progress. At this moment only a base level Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issues for the region for winds of 60 mph. Which at this point, radar return showing surging winds of 80-90 mph around 1000 feet above the ground. Significant wind damage was already in progress with power poles snapped, large trees uprooted and some structural damage. Even one confirmed injury with a gentlemen suffering a concussion when taking shelter in a Camper in Denton. Where he was thrown with his camper from the strong winds and a tree falling on it. He is in stable condition which is great news.

    Radar View From Andrewsville On The MD/DE Line

    Our storm begins to gain intensity as it crosses over the MD/DE line into Andrewsville. Radar signatures still holding steady with 80-90 MPH winds roughly at 800ft above the surface. Many reports out that way of power poles being snapped, significant tree damage with several roofs being blown off from chicken houses and outbuildings. Consistent with ongoing radar returns, significant straight line winds were continuing to rip across the county in Kent & Sussex counties.

    Radar Snapshot ~ 7:38PM – Radar Returns Reaching 100 MPH Around 700ft In Harrington / Farmington

    Now we enter I would say the max intensity of this destructive wind even near the Harrington region where I have seen some of the worst damage. With radar coverage so close to where this storm occurred, it was a blessing to have such incredible radar data to judge the strength of these winds. At this point when a rare “Destructive Severe Thunderstorm Warning” was issued for areas of Kent and Sussex Counties.

    These are new type of warning from the National Weather Service to be issued to give greater threats to thunderstorms who are capable of destructive winds or hail. Winds need to be at least 80 MPH or hail greater than the size of baseballs. These warnings will trigger mobile phones similar to how you would receive a Tornado Warning for your area. This is our second SVRD to the Delmarva region this year with the last one occurring in May across Ocean City Maryland. Damage across Harrington include several structures losing roofs and one pole barn suffered a full collapse on the rear side. Debris were thrown hundreds of feet into other homes and opens fields. Several power poles snapped along Route 14.

    Slaughter Neck, DE 2021 – EF1 90 MPH
    Tiffany Clarie – Harrington, DE

    A resident with a TV antenna tower folded under the power of the winds yesterday. Now those take some very strong winds to topple over. Last year in Milford through Slaughter beach, a EF-1 tornado caused similar wind speeds of at least 90 mph to topple one of these. The only difference the one in Slaughter Neck was twisted at the point of the failure where as Tiffany had in Harrington was folded in the same direction of the wind. 90-100 MPH of Straight Line Winds appear likely through this region in reference to radar data to support it. Goes to show that you do not need a tornado to create significant damage. Straight lines of this magnitude are similar to a EF-1 tornado and can cause significant threat to lives and property.

    A big thank to everyone who sent us photos and information for this case study of the destructive winds across our region.

  • After arriving in Delaware in 2017, spotted lanternfly now confirmed in Sussex County

    After arriving in Delaware in 2017, spotted lanternfly now confirmed in Sussex County

    DOVER, Del. (July 12, 2022) — Five years after the first confirmed spotted lanternfly was found in New Castle County in 2017, the spotted lanternfly has made its way to Sussex County, creating a statewide quarantine for this invasive pest.

    The spotted lanternfly is a destructive invasive planthopper that attacks many hosts, including trees, shrubs, orchards, grapes, and hops. The insect is detrimental to Delaware’s agricultural industry, forests, and residential areas.

    Effective July 12, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) will expand the quarantine to include Sussex County due to established populations of spotted lanternfly found in Georgetown, Milford, Seaford, Ocean View, and Rehoboth. Quarantine means that residents, businesses, or municipalities cannot move any material or object that could harbor the pest without taking precautions to prevent the spread. Adults can fly, hop, or drop onto a vehicle – meaning that this pest can be easily transported to new areas where it can create another infestation.

    “It is practically impossible to eradicate the spotted lanternfly because of its status as a hitchhiker bug,” said Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Nikko Brady. “For a small state, our Spotted Lanternfly Program has done an excellent job in fending off the spread of this invasive insect for five years and are just now finding it in Sussex County.”

    Since the initial population of spotted lanternfly was found in 2018, DDA has partnered with USDA to conduct surveys and assessments. Overall, the Spotted Lanternfly Program has treated 23,721 acres with insecticides or herbicides to reduce Delaware’s spotted lanternfly population. Once the females began laying egg masses this past fall, the team scraped 90,147 egg masses with 30-50 eggs in each, significantly reducing this year’s population.

    Due to quarantines in other states, interstate commerce will be impacted if the pest is transported out of the Delaware quarantine area. Therefore, DDA’s Spotted Lanternfly Program is focused on priority properties that are pathways for the movement of spotted lanternfly, including highways, railways, public transportation, and distribution centers. The Program’s inspectors use the tree of heaven, an invasive necessary for spotted lanternfly to reproduce, to search for the insect.

    A 3rd instar spotted lanternfly is black with white spots. When it metamorphizes into a 4th instar, it will be black with red on its body and white spots.

    Managing Spotted Lanternfly
    Homeowners are encouraged to visit Delaware’s spotted lanternfly website at https://de.gov/hitchhikerbug to learn what the quarantine means and how to manage this invasive pest. The Delaware Homeowner Spotted Lanternfly and Treatment Fact Sheet lists pesticides labeled for planthoppers or leafhoppers sold at local home and garden stores, which can be used to kill the insect. Residents can do their part by treating nymphs and adults from May to November and scraping and destroying egg masses from December to May. Homeowners can also hire a commercially licensed turf and ornamental pesticide applicator to treat their properties for these insects.

    In Delaware, spotted lanternfly nymphs are in the third and fourth instar stages and will metamorphize into adults before the end of July. From now until early September, trees are actively moving phloem from the trunk into the branches, which feed the tree’s growth. At this time, using a systemic insecticide is preferred because it is absorbed by tree roots, bark, or leaves and is moved through its vascular system to other parts of the tree. This means that no matter what area the spotted lanternfly feeds on, it will ingest the insecticide and die.

    Eliminating the tree of heaven helps decrease the spotted lanternfly population. The tree of heaven is found in industrial parks, unmanaged areas, or vacant lots, and along highways and railways. Municipalities and businesses should prioritize destroying the female tree of heaven while leaving some male specimens as trap trees. The average homeowner does not have tree of heaven on their properties, but the homeowner should remove it if identified.

    Delaware Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine and Permitting
    The general public is encouraged to download and print the Delaware Resident Spotted Lanternfly Compliance Checklist, indicating that you inspected and know that no living life stage of the spotted lanternfly is present on regulated articles before moving them. The checklist is available online at https://de.gov/hitchhikerbug. DDA recommends keeping the checklist in each vehicle’s glove box and noting the date when specific items on the list are inspected before transport.

    Examples of regulated articles include:
    • Any living life stage of the spotted lanternfly
    • Landscaping, remodeling, or construction materials
    • Firewood of any species
    • Packing materials (e.g., wood crates, boxes)
    • All plants and plant parts, including all live and dead trees, perennial and annual plants, and mulch
    • Outdoor household articles like RVs, lawnmowers, chairs, grills, tarps, tile, stone, deck boards, and other vehicles not stored indoors.

    Any person conducting business for a commercial company, a municipality, or a government agency that requires movement of any regulated item within or from the quarantine area must have a permit, available through the DDA spotted lanternfly website. To obtain a permit, a designated individual from an organization must receive training and pass an online test to demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of the pest and quarantine requirements. This individual is then required to train other employees to inspect vehicles and products and remove any spotted lanternfly life stages. The permit demonstrates that the individual understands how to identify the pest and ensure the items transported are not carrying the insect.

    Adult spotted lanternfly on a person's thumb. The adult is about the length from the tip of the thumb to the first joint below the nail.

    Reporting Spotted Lanternfly
    Residents who live near the Dover Air Force Base or in Sussex County are encouraged to report sightings of the spotted lanternfly. Citizen reports help DDA inspectors determine how these insects move and which transportation pathways they utilize. These reports also allow DDA to notify agricultural operations with plants vulnerable to this insect. Residents can make a report by using the online form at https://de.gov/hitchhikerbug or emailing [email protected] and including the location of the find in the subject line. Due to the high level of reporting, DDA inspectors will not respond to emails but will use the information provided to determine if a new spotted lanternfly population is present.

  • Delaware Division Of Public Health Reports First Case Of Monkeypox In The State

    Delaware Division Of Public Health Reports First Case Of Monkeypox In The State

    DOVER, DE (JULY 12, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) is announcing the state’s first case of the monkeypox virus (MPX). This week, DPH received test results showing a 41-year-old New Castle County man tested positive for MPX. This positive case is considered probable pending confirmatory testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Delaware man did not report any travel or exposure to someone known to have MPX but is believed to have been exposed to the virus after close intimate contact with an individual in early July.

    The individual is self-isolating and DPH is working with him to identify any possible close contacts. Currently, DPH is working with the CDC to confirm the course of treatment for this individual.  

    “The Delaware Division of Public Health has prepared to respond to MPX cases,” said DPH Interim Director Dr. Rick Hong. “As we work to confirm our first case in the state, we encourage Delawareans to be aware of being in close intimate contact with individuals who have rashes or flu-like symptoms. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.”

    MPX is a rare disease caused through infection with the monkeypox virus. It can make you sick, causing a rash, which may look like pimples or blisters, often with an earlier flu-like illness. Transmission of MPX occurs when a person encounters the virus from an animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).

    The overall risk of MPX is low, generally caused by close intimate contact. However there are other ways it can spread including:

    • direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
    • respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
    • touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
    • pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
    • It’s also possible for people to get MPX from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.

    The incubation period of the illness (time from infection to symptoms) is typically seven to 14 days but can as long as 21 days. The illness itself typically lasts two to four weeks and is rarely fatal. People who do not have symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.

    Signs and Symptoms

    The symptoms of MPX are similar to, but milder than, the symptoms of smallpox. Symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. Most people who contract MPX will develop a rash, and some will develop flu-like symptoms beforehand. The flu-like symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, sore throat, cough, swollen lymph nodes, chills, or exhaustion. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash one to four days later.

    If you suspect you are experiencing any symptoms associated with MPX you should immediately:

    • Contact your health care provider – mention your concerns
    • Self-isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed
    • Avoid being intimate with others
    • Make a list of your close and intimate contacts in the last 21 days

    Currently, there is no specific treatment for monkeypox virus infection. Instead, smallpox vaccine, antivirals, and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) can be used.  CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been diagnosed with or exposed to MPX and people who are at higher risk of being exposed to the virus, including:

    • People who have been identified as a contact of someone with MPX
    • People who are aware that one of their sexual partners in the past 2 weeks has been diagnosed with MPX
    • People who had multiple sexual partners in the past 2 weeks in an area with known MPX
    • People whose jobs may expose them to MPX such as laboratory, and some health care or public health workers

    To prevent infection with MPX:

    • Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like MPX.
    • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with MPX.
    • Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with MPX.
    • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with MPX.
    • Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with MPX.
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

    To learn more about MPX management and prevention programs and resources, visit https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/epi/emerginginfectiousdiseases.html or call DPH’s Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology 24/7 emergency contact number at 888-295-5156.

  • Millsboro Man Arrested After Displaying What Appeared to be a Firearm

    Millsboro Man Arrested After Displaying What Appeared to be a Firearm

    Teliam J. Austin, 20, of Millsboro, Del. was arrested Saturday afternoon after displaying what appeared to be a firearm to employees of Claws Seafood House while demanding a bushel of crabs.

    On Saturday, July 2nd just before 3:00pm, Austin approached three female employees of Claws Seafood House, located in the second block of Rehoboth Avenue, and asked for a free bushel of crabs. One of the female employees was familiar with Austin as he had done this in the past; however, on this occasion Austin lifted his shirt displaying what appeared to be the handle of a firearm in his waistband while demanding the crabs. Nothing was given to Austin and he walked away laughing; however, the victims were left in fear of injury believing that the firearm was real. Police were able to later locate and identify Austin at which time they located in his front waistband a black and red “splat gun”, which is made to resemble a pistol.

    No injuries resulted from the incident and no property was taken.

    Austin was charged with three felony counts of aggravated menacing.

    Austin has since pled guilty to a lesser offense of misdemeanor menacing in the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas receiving probation before judgement and fines.

  • Governor Carney Announces American Rescue Plan Act Housing Initiatives

    Governor Carney Announces American Rescue Plan Act Housing Initiatives

    Governor Carney Announces American Rescue Plan Act Housing Initiatives

    New programs will strengthen communities statewide

    WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) on Thursday announced affordable housing and housing development initiatives to strengthen communities throughout Delaware.

    DSHA will use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to develop a multitiered approach to address the affordable housing crisis across the state. DSHA will create the following programs as part of this initiative, and will administer the programs through 2026:

    • Catalyst Fund (Expected launch: Summer 2022) – Creating and preserving affordable homeownership opportunities through the acquisition and rehabilitation of vacant homes in Delaware’s neighborhoods. These funds will be administered in partnership with Cinnaire, a certified Community Development Financial Institution that offers lending options for community development construction.

    Cinnaire will offer construction lending by leveraging ARPA funds to incentivize for-profit and nonprofit developers to purchase, renovate, or replace vacant and blighted properties. The for-profit or nonprofit developer will receive ARPA funding as part of their construction project financing so that the cost of the new or rehabilitated home remains affordable to low-income residents.  

    • Market Pressure Relief Fund (Expected launch: Summer 2022) – Relieving economic cost pressures on Delaware’s affordable housing development community. This will provide additional financing to owners of affordable multifamily rental projects currently under construction that have faced construction cost increases due to supply chain disruptions and inflation to ensure these projects are completed.
    • Accelerator Fund (Expected launch: Fall 2022) – Leveraging once-in-a generation funding available to unlock Delaware’s development potential. The Accelerator Fund will provide an incentive to market-rate rental developers with planned construction projects to provide affordable rental units in their new or renovated properties. The developer will receive an upfront payment from DSHA, funded by ARPA, which will offset construction costs. As part of the funding agreement, the developer will commit to an affordable monthly rent for a specified number of units in a project that would otherwise be exclusively market-rate. This new program will also provide additional funds for traditional affordable rental developers that qualify for the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
    • Preservation Fund (Expected launch: Spring 2023) – Ensuring enduring affordability in Delaware’s existing affordable housing stock. These fundswill offer financial incentives to ensure nearly 1,000 existing affordable rental units eligible to convert to market rate instead remain in the affordable rental inventory.

    “We are investing in affordable housing development across our state so that more Delaware families have access to safe, affordable housing,” said Governor Carney. “We are using ARPA funds to make sure these affordable housing construction projects get through the finish line, support more Delawareans in becoming homeowners, and revitalize communities that were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to members of our federal delegation and President Biden for providing these important resources through the American Rescue Plan Act.”

    DSHA and its partners will host public meetings to gather feedback from the community and stakeholders before launching these new programs. The first meeting will focus on the Catalyst Fund and will take place the week of July 25. The purpose of the meetings is to ensure that the programs are designed to best meet the goal of increasing the availability of affordable housing in Delaware. More information, including upcoming meeting dates and program details, will be posted on destatehousing.com. 

    Delawareans can stay informed about housing program announcements by signing up for DSHA’s newsletter at destatehousing.com/NewsAndEvents/newsletters.php.

    “DSHA is committed to stewarding these funds efficiently and transparently. With these historic investments, our state is firmly positioned to meet the critical needs of Delawareans across the state,” said Eugene Young Jr., Director of DSHA. “Whether you’re looking to rent, buy, or develop, we look forward to working in partnership with you to make Delaware a better place to live.”

    Governor Carney on Thursday also announced over $28 million in ARPA-funded housing initiatives that will help improve current properties through rehabilitation, expand homeownership opportunities, and secure property for additional affordable housing development for low-income Delawareans.

    Below are the projects included in the announcement:

    Sussex County – $9.9 million

    • NCALL Land Bank – $4 million to purchase property in Sussex and Kent counties for future affordable housing development.
    • NCALL – $2.9 million to leverage $5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the development of 40 affordable rental housing units for poultry industry workers.
    • Sussex Habitat for Humanity – $3 million to assist with Kimmeytown Revitalization in Georgetown, develop an Affordable Homeownership Creation project that will construct approximately 27 new affordable homes, and additional smaller projects.

    Kent County – $6.9 million

    • Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing – $5 million to acquire and develop three properties in Dover to address blight and homelessness.
    • Milford Housing Development Corporation – $1.9 million to assist nearly 70 individuals in achieving homeownership through their homeownership programs and projects.

    New Castle County – $11.5 million

    • Todmorden Foundation/Woodlawn Trustees – $4.5 million to provide seniors in the City of Wilmington with additional affordable housing options.
    • Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank – $4.5 million to address blight and provide revitalization to the houses around the new Bancroft School.
    • Wilmington Housing Authority – $1.5 million to rehabilitate homes in the City of Wilmington and address blight.
    • Southbridge Beautification – $1 million to address blight and provide repairs to more than 50 homes.

    “Access to affordable housing is vital to a person’s health and well-being,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “The impacts of COVID-19 on our economy have made the dream of safe and affordable housing a more distant reality for many Delawareans. This ARPA investment will expand access to affordable housing options in communities that need it most, and make Delaware a stronger, healthier, more equitable state.”

    “I applaud Governor Carney for addressing the affordable housing shortage in Delaware, a problem only made worse by the pandemic,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “When Senator Coons, Congresswoman Blunt Rochester and I were crafting the American Rescue Plan, this is just the kind of program we had in mind to help folks in need and strengthen our communities across the state.”

    “I’m proud to have worked with President Biden to maximize the amount of housing money in the American Rescue Plan to give Delaware’s renters and homeowners access to the safe neighborhoods and affordable housing that they deserve,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “The lack of housing options for working Delawareans has pushed homeowners and renters to pay more than their fair share to find a decent place to live, and Governor Carney’s embrace of this federal money will create much needed housing all across our state that stays within the budgets of working Delawareans. I look forward to working with the governor and the rest of our state’s representatives in Washington to continue finding long-term solutions to our housing shortage.”

    “We know that one of the most pressing needs in our state throughout the pandemic and during our recovery is the need for affordable housing,” said U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester.“That’s why I was so proud to help secure millions of dollars for Delaware through the American Rescue Plan Act to do just that. I commend Governor Carney and the State for deploying these resources as part of our mission to ensure that every Delawarean has access to safe and affordable housing.”

    DSHA announced last week the launch of the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program, which can provide up to $40,000 in financial assistance to eligible households who experienced a COVID-19-related financial hardship that resulted in mortgage delinquency or forbearance. This program is supported by the federal Homeowners Assistance Fund, which was created under ARPA and distributed to states to provide relief for homeowners. Delaware received $50 million. Homeowners can apply for the program by visiting demortgagehelp.com.

    In addition to the new projects announced on Thursday, Governor Carney previously announced a $26.4 million ARPA investment in housing funding for the purpose-built community in northeast Wilmington to accelerate the development of 350 affordable homes to completion.

    ARPA was championed in Congress by members of Delaware’s congressional delegation – Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester – and signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021.

  • Long Neck murder suspect dies in custody

    Long Neck murder suspect dies in custody

    Klein (Photo: DSP)

    Officials are investigating the death of a Long Neck murder suspect who was in custody at SCI.

    .

    57-year-old Michael Klein had been in prison in the suspected murder of 67-year-old Lewis Fetrow, whos body was found on the property of Baywood Golf Course on June 7. Investigators discovered Klein as a suspect, who was already in custody for another crime.

    .

    Officials say Klein, who had a history of chronic health conditions, was found unresponsive in his cell around 8:15 Monday morning (July 4). He was pronounced dead by responding paramedics shortly after.

    .

    Delaware State Police are investigating Klein’s death, and his body has been released to the Division of Forensic Science to determine the cause of death.

  • DSP investigating cologne theft, robbery

    DSP investigating cologne theft, robbery

    Delaware State Police are investigating a robbery that occurred in the Rehoboth Beach area on Monday afternoon.

    .

    On July 4, 2022, at approximately 2:40 p.m., an unknown male subject entered the Fragrance Hut located at 35016 Midway Outlet Drive. The suspect gathered numerous bottles of cologne and began leaving the store without rendering payment for the items. When he was approached by a store employee, the suspect confronted the victim with a can of pepper spray. The suspect exited the store and fled the scene in a blue Kia Optima, and was last seen proceeding southbound on Coastal Highway. Troopers responded to the area and observed the vehicle on southbound Coastal Highway traveling towards Bethany Beach. Officers from the Bethany Beach Police Department attempted to stop the Kia, but the driver failed to stop on command. A brief pursuit ensued, which was discontinued due to traffic conditions. Officers established a perimeter in the Bethany Beach area in an attempt to locate the Kia Optima, but were unsuccessful in doing so. No one was injured in this incident, and the suspect remains at-large.

    .

    The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 6’00” – 6’02” tall, with a thin build. There are no surveillance images available at this time.

    .

    Delaware State Police Troop 7 is currently investigating the incident. Troopers are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Trooper First Class T. Bennett by calling 302-703-3305. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police, by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, or via the internet at www.delawarecrimestoppers.com.

  • Fight leads to gun fire in Rehoboth Beach

    Fight leads to gun fire in Rehoboth Beach

    Simms (Image: DSP)

    A suspect has been arrested following a shooting in Rehoboth Beach early Monday morning.

    .

    Delaware State Police say 40-year-old Allan Simms of Rehoboth Beach got into an argument with a 40-year-old victim at the parking lot of the YMCA on Church Street just after midnight on July 4. The argument led to a physical fight that left minor injuries on the victim.

    .

    Police say Simms left and returned a short time later, where he pulled out a gun and shot towards the victim once and fled. The victim was not hit.

    .

    Officers were able to locate the vehicle Simms fled in at the nearby Burton Village apartment complex, where a Smith & Wesson rifle was located inside. A computer check revealed that Simms was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm.

    .

    Simms surrendered to Troop 7 and faces several charges, including:

    Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
    Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
    Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)
    Assault Third Degree

    .

    He was lodged at SCI on $66,000 cash bond.

  • Three suspects arrested in Delmar auto shop burglary

    Three suspects arrested in Delmar auto shop burglary

    Three people have been arrested for an alleged burglary of a Delmar auto shop over the weekend.

    .

    Delaware State Police say troopers responded to West Auto on Sussex Highway in Delmar on reports of a burglary, to which the suspects made entry through an unsecured window and stole about $11,100 in tools, machinery and parts.

    .

    An investigation led to three suspects: 41-year-old Stacy Dyson of Delmar, 38-year-old Timothy Dyson and 22-year-old Michael Lecates of Laurel. A traffic stop on July 2 led to their arrest, where stolen tools and drugs were discovered in the vehicle. An investigation also determined that the three were likely involved in another burglary at a residence on Whiteville Road.

    .

    Timothy Dyson

    Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony)- 2 counts
    Theft $1,500 or Greater (Felony)
    Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
    Theft Under $1,500
    Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
    Numerous Traffic Violations
    Timothy Dyson was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and released on $9,750 unsecured bond.

    Stacy Dyson

    Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony)- 2 counts
    Theft $1,500 or Greater (Felony)
    Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
    Theft Under $1,500
    Criminal Mischief
    Stacy Dyson was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and released on her own recognizance.

    Michael Lecates

    Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony)- 2 counts
    Theft $1,500 or Greater (Felony)
    Tampering With Physical Evidence (Felony)
    Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
    Theft Under $1,500
    Possession of a Controlled Substance
    Criminal Mischief

    .

    Timothy Dyson was also driving without a license and faces traffic charges as well. He was released on $9,750 secured bond. The other two suspects were released on their own recognizance.

  • Judge rules against Seaford’s fetal ordinance

    Judge rules against Seaford’s fetal ordinance

    A fetal tissue ordinance enacted by Seaford City Council late last year has been overturned following a successful legal challenge by Attorney General Kathy Jennings and the Delaware Department of Justice.

    .

    The ordinance, enacted on December 14 with an original effective date of January 22, would have forced anyone who had a surgical abortion at an “abortion facility” or a miscarriage at a “health care facility” to have the fetal tissue interred or cremated at their own expense, despite the hardship on patients and clear preemption by State law.

    .

    In a ruling released Wednesday morning, Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster of the Delaware Court of Chancery ruled that the City of Seaford, as a junior sovereign, cannot enact a law that conflicts directly with law established by the State as the senior sovereign.

    .

    “The U.S. Supreme Court has unleashed a wave of extremist, draconian laws across our country. That wave stops here,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “This ruling firmly rejects a clearly illegal and harmful attempt to nullify State law and to use dark money to return us to the Dark Ages. It protects residents and visitors of Seaford from a cruel and frankly hateful policy. And it makes clear that Delaware remains a safe haven for choice and reproductive freedom exactly when those sanctuaries are needed most. I am grateful to the Court for its wisdom and to our team for their quick response and tireless work on this case.”

    .

    Jennings filed suit on January 11 after twice warning Seaford City Council that State law preempted the ordinance. Council passed the ordinance despite those warnings, with a promise that an anonymous outside donor would fund the defense against the State’s incoming lawsuit. The Court’s ruling awards costs to the State.

    .

    “Even after last week’s devastating Dobbs decision, abortion remains a codified right in Delaware,” said Mike Brickner, executive director of the ACLU of Delaware. “Yesterday, our General Assembly fortified that right by expanding access to abortion, and today, the Delaware Chancery Court also reinforced that right, making it clear that municipal attacks on our state-guaranteed right to abortion won’t stand. ACLU-DE applauds Attorney General Kathy Jennings, and her team, for their swift and effective legal action against Seaford’s city council to permanently block the city’s illegal fetal remains ordinance.”

    .

    “Planned Parenthood of Delaware is pleased with this decision,” said Ruth Lytle-Barnaby, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Delaware. “As we expected, Vice Chancellor Laster recognized state law forbids local regulations of the type the city attempted to pass. We are hopeful that we can now focus on providing care to the Seaford area rather than defending ourselves against unnecessary, harmful, and legally questionable ordinances. Our sincere thanks go to the Department of Justice for their hard work on this case and their commitment to defending reproductive rights. PPDE will continue to offer top-notch care to all and to fight for your ability to receive sexual and reproductive health services.”

    .

    “This decision is a victory for women and for the rule of law in Delaware,” said Melissa Froemming, president of Delaware NOW. “We thank the Delaware Department of Justice for standing up for women in our state, and for fighting to ensure that women’s right to privacy and right to make decisions regarding their bodies remain protected. Our legislators have codified Roe — abortion is legal in Delaware — but legislators change. The Seaford ordinance and Friday’s Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court have reinforced the importance of protecting and expanding the right to abortion as health care in Delaware using every tool possible. We are grateful to have a champion in Attorney General Jennings.”

    .

    Since the DOJ’s arguments were premised on State law, the State’s case, and the Court of Chancery’s ruling, are unaffected by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

    .

    The lawsuit against Seaford was led by Director of Impact Litigation Christian Douglas Wright with support from the attorneys and staff of the Fraud and Consumer Protection Division and Civil Division: Deputy Attorney General Vanessa L. Kassab, Assistant Attorney General Deepinder K. Goraya, and Paralegals Zuri Ramsey and Michele Porter.

  • After 26-years of service, Ellendale’s Engine 2 is headed to Kentucky

    After 26-years of service, Ellendale’s Engine 2 is headed to Kentucky

    Photo: Ellendale Fire Company (Facebook)

    The Ellendale Fire Company announced it has donated one of its engines to a Kentucky fire station that was destroyed by flooding last year.

    .

    The 1996 Monarch is headed to the Blackberry Volunteer Fire Department in Ransom, Kentucky, where the station was completely destroyed by flooding in August of 2021. The engine served the Ellendale company for 26 years.

    .

    Ellendale Fire says the Kentucky company has been working to rebuild the station, but hampered by funding – only receiving $11,000 in state assistance for the year.

    .

    In a Facebook statement, Ellendale Fire says donating the engine to a company in need was the best path forward in showing the generosity of the community they serve and the brotherhood of the fire service as a whole.

    .

    The company now looking to replace the donated engine.

  • Two people arrested on drugs, theft charges in Lewes

    Two people arrested on drugs, theft charges in Lewes

    Keller and Fisher. (Photo: Delaware State Police)

    A trespass investigation leads to two people arrested on drugs and theft charges in Lewes.

    .

    Delaware State Police say 31-year-old Amber Kellner of Lewes, 30-year-old James Fisher of Georgetown were arrested after troopers were called to reports of someone living in a home without permission in the 33000 block of Lotus Lane. When officers arrived, the two suspects were at the home with three juveniles; ages 11, 10 and 7. Troopers spotted several narcotics and drug paraphernalia, along with suspected stolen goods inside the home. A search of the home uncovered nearly 46 grams of meth, 79 prescription pills, 1.8 grams of marijuana, nearly 4 grams of psychedelic mushrooms and .6 grams of suspected heroin.

    .

    A stolen Wolf scooter and other items were also recovered at the home.

    .

    Kellner and Fisher face several charges, including:

    Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 3 Quantity (Felony)

    Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)

    Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)

    Theft $1,500 or Greater (Felony) – 2 counts

    Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)

    Endangering the Welfare of a Child – 3 counts

    Possession of a Controlled Substance

    Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 2 counts

    .

    They were both arraigned and lodged at SCI on $89,600 cash bond. The three juveniles were turned over to their legal guardians.

  • Felton Police arrest man accused of holding a gun to victim’s head during dispute

    Felton Police arrest man accused of holding a gun to victim’s head during dispute

    Rubley (Photo: Felton Police Department)

    A Felton man faces several threatening charges after allegedly threatening to kill a person with a handgun.

    .

    Felton Police say a female victim fled to their police department and reportedly told officers that 39-year-old Russell Rubley allegedly held a handgun to her head and threatened to shoot. Officers then arrived to the home in the 100 block of East Sewell Street and arrested Rubley without incident.

    .

    Rubley faces several charges, including:
    Aggravated Menacing (Class E Felony)
    Terroristic Threatening (class A misdemeanor), Offensive Touching (class A misdemeanor)
    Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (class B Felony)

    .

    He was arraigned and lodged at SCI on $56,000 cash bond. He was also issued a no contact order with the victim.

  • Trooper injured in alleged drug arrest in Lewes

    Trooper injured in alleged drug arrest in Lewes

    Photo: Delaware State Police

    A Delaware State Police trooper is recovering from injury after attempting to arrest a suspect over the weekend in Lewes.

    .

    Police say the officer responded to a potential drug transaction call along the roadway of Pinetown Road and Cone Lane just before noon on Saturday (June 25). When troopers approached the suspect, 18-year-old Jaliel Perry of Lincoln, he allegedly fled. When officers caught up to Perry and attempted to take him into custody, he allegedly resisted and injured one of the officers. The officer was later taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and released.

    .

    Perry was charged with:

    • Assault Second Degree of a Law Enforcement Officer (Felony)
    • Resisting Arrest With Force or Violence (Felony)
    • Tampering With Evidence (Felony)
    • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
    • Criminal Mischief

    .

    Perry was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $10,000 cash bond.

  • Loitering complaint leads to drug, weapons charges in Dewey Beach

    Loitering complaint leads to drug, weapons charges in Dewey Beach

    Photo: Dewey Beach Police

    Dewey Beach Police arrest two men for drugs and weapon charges following a loitering complaint.

    .

    Officers were called to the 100 block of Read Avenue just before 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night (June 25). When they arrived and made contact with 21-year-old Shkai Sanders and 24-year-old Kaje Tiggs-Reynolds, officers spotted a handgun in the driver door pocket and noticed a smell of marijuana from the vehicle.

    .

    Both men were detained and a search of the vehicle uncovered two handguns, magazines, 47 grams of marijuana, three scales, zip lock bags and other paraphernalia.

    .

    Chandler faces several gun and drug charges, including:

    – Poss Purch Own or Control a Deadly Weapon Semi Auto or Auto By Person Prohibit Who Also Possesses Controlled Substance (Felony)

    – Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon A Firearm (Felony)

    – Possession of Marijuana-(Civil Violation)

    .

    Tiggs-Reynolds faces the following charges:

    – Manufacture/Deliver/PWID Controlled Substance (Felony)

    – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Not Related to Personal Use Quantity Marijuana or Person Under 18 (Misdemeanor)

    .

    Chandler was lodged at SCI on $15,125.00 secured bail. Tiggs-Reynolds was also lodged at SCI on $7,500 secure bail.

    Photo: Dewey Beach Police
  • Laurel Police investigating bank robbery

    Laurel Police investigating bank robbery

    Image: Laurel Police

    Laurel Police have released surveillance photos of a suspect wanted in a bank robbery.

    The incident happened at the Bank of Delmarva on June 24.

    Information is limited at this time, but anyone who may know the suspect is asked to contact Laurel Police at 302-875-2244 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333.

  • Family, friends come together to help Lewes Mom battling progressive melanoma

    Family, friends come together to help Lewes Mom battling progressive melanoma

    Katie Arietta and Family (Photo: Facebook)

    Family and friends of Katie Arietta are raising awareness of skin cancer and the concerns for their friend who is battling progressive melanoma.

    .

    In 2021, the 37-year-old mother of two children was diagnosed with state 3B melanoma, spreading to her lymph nodes and bones. This month, she had extensive surgery and started an aggressive treatment plan – and it’s been a battle.

    .

    Childhood friends Michelle Phillips and ErinAnn Beebe, who were cheerleaders together at Cape Henlopen High School, tells TV Delmarva about the kind of person Katie is.

    .

    Michelle owns a saloon, where people have been stopping in to donate and help the family. ErinAnn and Katie’s family also set up a GoFundMe and a Meal Train, while helping raise awareness for the disease.

    .

    If you would like to help The Arietta family, here are some links for support:

    GoFundMe

    Meal Train

  • 18-year-old arrested, another wanted in Lincoln shooting

    18-year-old arrested, another wanted in Lincoln shooting

    Samuel Modestin (Delaware State Police)

    Delaware State Police arrest one suspect and looking for another following a shooting in the Lincoln area on Wednesday.

    Just after 3:00 p.m., officers were called to the 10000 block of Greentop Road on reports of shots fired. An investigation determined that two suspects in a Toyota Corolla had fired the shots at a residence with three occupants inside and fled. No one was injured or struck by gunfire.

    A short time later, troopers located the Corolla on Haflinger Road and arrested the driver, 18-year-old Samuel Modestin of Seaford. He faces three counts of felony reckless endangering and felony second-degree conspiracy.

    He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

    The second suspect is still at large. Anyone with information is asked to contact Delaware State Police at 302-752-3856 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333.

  • Rehoboth Beach pursuit ends in crash, drug bust

    Rehoboth Beach pursuit ends in crash, drug bust

    Photo: Rehoboth Beach Police

    A Millsboro man is in jail after allegedly leading police on a chase that ended crashing into another police vehicle.

    .

    The incident happened at around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday night.

    .

    Rehoboth Beach Police say officers attempted to stop 34-year-old Terence Savage, who was driving a Mercedes Benz with fictitious Delaware registration. When the officer attempted the traffic stop in the second block of Baltimore Avenue, a passenger fled the vehicle and Savage sped off with the vehicle.

    .

    The pursuit lasted less than a mile and ended at the intersection of Christiana Street and Rehoboth Avenue when Savage struck another vehicle waiting at the intersection and a police cruiser. No injuries were reported in the crash.

    .

    Savage was taken into custody. A search of his vehicle turned up several drugs and paraphernalia; including cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana.

    .

    Savage faces a sleuth of charges, including felony possession of a controlled substance and disregarding a police officer’s signal. He was lodged on $7150.00 secured bail.

    .

    CHARGES:

    Savage was arrested and charged with two felony charges; disregarding a police officer’s signal and possession of a controlled substance in a tier 1 quantity. Savage was charged with five misdemeanor charges; resisting arrest, possession of marijuana other than personal use, possession a prescription drug without a prescription, possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance without a prescription, and possession of paraphernalia not related to personal use marijuana. Finally, Savage was charged with ten traffic charges; driving a vehicle at an unreasonable speed, failing to stop at red light, failing to stop at a stop sign (x2), disregarding the right of way of pedestrians in a crosswalk, expired tags, fictitious registration, failing to have a registration card in possession, and failing to have learner’s permit in possession.

  • UPDATE: Sussex County purchases Hopkins Family Farm, other land for preservation

    UPDATE: Sussex County purchases Hopkins Family Farm, other land for preservation

    Sussex County has purchased former farmland of Hopkins Farm near Lewes for preservation. (Photo: Sussex County Government)

    Sussex County Council announced the purchase of several parcels of land for preservation, including the former Hopkins Family Farm.

    .

    County officials announced yesterday the purchase of several parcels of land, which includes 51-acres of the Lewes-area Hopkins Farm. The purpose of the purchase: farmland and natural resource preservation. It’s part of 151 acres of land purchased across Sussex County this year, totaling more than $5 million dollars.

    .

    County Administrator Todd Lawson spoke about the acquisition during Tuesday’s County Council meeting.

    
"Mr. Hopkins, as a 4th-generation farmer and known for grain and dairy production, at the farm", Lawson says. "[The Hopkins Family] currently farm this property but had the idea that they would like to preserve the property and entered discussions with the Sussex County Land Trust who was able to really foster that relationship to the point we could start talking about acquisition."

    The Hopkins Family sold the land at 50-percent below its appraisal value with the promise of preservation. There is discussions to include a walking path and a possible fishing pond for visitors to enjoy.

    .

    The additional land purchases include 13-acres and 40-acres of land along Route 24 from The Dorman and Dawson tracts, and 47-acres of the Jones Family tract on Conaway Road in Millsboro.

    .

    The acquisitions are part of the County’s plan to preserve farmland and natural resources across Sussex County, which has spent over 13-million dollars on over 5,000 acres of land since 2003.

    .

    NEWS RELEASE:

    Georgetown, Del., June 21, 2022: Sussex County will keep a little more land in its landscape, thanks to the permanent protection of more than 150 acres in southern Delaware.

    County officials on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, announced a series of open space purchases that will protect four parcels in eastern and central Sussex, where the landscape is under increased pressure from residential development. In total, the purchases will cost more than $5 million and preserve in perpetuity 151 acres of agricultural and wooded lands, including a portion of the prominent Lewes-area Hopkins Farm. Funding comes from County reserves, specifically savings realized through the County’s portion of Delaware’s realty transfer tax.

    It is the latest effort by the County government in recent years to build the area’s open space inventory, often through partnerships, either through the purchase of development rights or by buying land outright. In the purchases announced, the County will own the acres acquired, but task the non-profit Sussex County Land Trust to assist in managing some of the future assets.

    “This latest round shows the County Council’s commitment to land preservation, in terms of the significance of the dollars spent to the number of acres preserved,” County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “The public has called on us to do more to protect what makes Sussex County special, and these acquisitions that we announce today answer that call in a very big way.”

    The properties the County has settled on include:

    Fifty-one acres known as the Hopkins Preserve, along Sweetbriar Road, just north of U.S. 9, outside Lewes, for a price of $1.5 million. The property owner, fourth-generation farmer Walter Hopkins and his family, discounted the sale price by 50 percent in exchange for the parcel being used at a later time as open space and a recreational amenity, specifically as part of a trailhead that will be developed and managed by the Sussex County Land Trust for the still-under-construction Georgetown to Lewes Trail;
    Forty-seven acres known as the Jones Family tract, at a cost of $650,000, located off Conaway Road adjacent to the State-owned Midlands Wildlife Area, west of Millsboro;
    Forty acres, named the Dawson Bros. tract, for a price of $2.5 million, located along the southside of Del. Route 24, near the Nanticoke Indian Center, east of Millsboro;
    Thirteen acres, for a sale price of $400,000, adjoining a larger parcel acquired by the County in 2020 and collectively known as the Dorman Family Farm Preserve, located along Herring Creek and Sarah Run, near Angola.
    County officials highlighted the purchases as important pieces in the overall preservation puzzle, noting that it takes a cooperative effort among landowners, government officials, non-profit groups and others – especially in an era of soaring land prices – to make such important gains.

    “It takes all of us working together to achieve that,” Council President Michael H. Vincent said. “In the end, it means a more preserved natural landscape, better protected habitat, improved water quality, and an enhanced way of life for Sussex County. That’s what the public wants.”

    Hopkins said working with the County and the Land Trust to preserve his family farm was as much about giving something back to the community as it was to ensure agriculture’s legacy.

    “Preserving this land and opening it to the public is the right thing to do,” Mr. Hopkins said. “Extending the adjacent bike trail around the property; forging extensive walking trails through the meadows and woodland; enhancing the wildlife habitat; encouraging the planting and growth of local flora – this is what I see for the property, and I look forward to the County and the Land Trust working together to bring that dream to fruition. This is truly a wonderful opportunity for the residents and visitors of Sussex County to enjoy for generations to come.”

    SCLT officials said the public is looking to the stakeholders involved to produce tangible results, and initiatives like this go a long way to satisfying the community’s expectations.

    “It’s one thing to buy the land. It’s something else to have a plan that guarantees the public’s access and ability to enjoy that land,” said Mark Chura, executive director of the Land Trust. “We look forward to carrying out our mission – and to realizing the vision of benefactors like the Hopkins family – so that our posterity can reap the rewards of the investments made today.”

  • Milford Police investigating homicide at Brightway Apartments

    Milford Police investigating homicide at Brightway Apartments

    Milford Police are investigating a homicide, the town’s first since 2020.

    On June 17, officers were called to the 100 block of Bright Way at the Brightway Commons Apartments just after 10:00 p.m., where a 34-year-old victim was found with several gunshot wounds. Emergency personnel attempted to save the victim, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.

    During the investigation, detectives learned that the victim allegedly got into an argument with a group of people. Investigators say that is when the victim was shot.

    Milford Police say the incident is currently an active investigation. Anyone with information should contact Milford Police at 302-422-8081, or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333.

  • UPDATE: Suspect faces charges in Millsboro homicide

    UPDATE: Suspect faces charges in Millsboro homicide

    Michael Klein (Delaware State Police)

    Delaware State Police arrest a suspect in connection to a Millsboro homicide earlier this month.

    57-year-old Michael Klein of Millsboro is accused of murdering 64-year-old Lewis Fetrow of Millsboro, whose body was discovered at Baywood Gold Course on June 7.

    Police say the victim was stabbed multiple times several days prior. An investigation led police to Klein as a suspect, who was incarcerated at SCI for unrelated charges.

    Klein now faces charges of:

    Murder First Degree (Felony)

    Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)

    Klein was arraigned and remained committed at Sussex Correctional Institution on $1,060,000 cash bond.

  • Child in critical condition after boating incident in Millsboro

    Child in critical condition after boating incident in Millsboro

    DNREC and Delaware State Police are investigating the cause to a boating accident in Millsboro last night (June 16).

    The Indian River Volunteer Fire Department, along with units from Dagsboro, Millsboro, Delaware Marine Police, Sussex County Paramedics and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the area of Warwick Road between Gull Point and the NRG Power Plant of a boat that crashed into a dock.

    Ground units and additional EMS units from Millsboro and Dagsboro.

    Officials say multiple adults and a child were involved in the incidents, with one adult taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. One child was reported in critical condition and flown to A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children via the Delaware State Police Aviation unit via the NRG Power Plant helipad.

    At this time, there is no additional information. Images posted are from the Indian River Vol. Fire Department’s Facebook page.

  • Lewes man arrested for DUI after striking Milford Police vehicle

    Lewes man arrested for DUI after striking Milford Police vehicle

    Photo: Milford Police Department

    A Lewes man faces DUI charges after crashing into a police vehicle.

    Milford Police say on June 14 just after 9:00 p.m., one of their officers was assisting with traffic at a road construction site on North Rehoboth Blvd. and Northeast Front Street when the driver of a 2010 Ford Expedition entered the construction site and struck the officer’s vehicle.

    The suspect, 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald of Lewes, was checked for a leg injury but declined further treatment. He was charged with DUI, Operating a Motor Vehicle in Violation of Restrictions, and Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

  • Laurel man charged with 8th DUI following crash in Seaford

    Laurel man charged with 8th DUI following crash in Seaford

    Brian Thomas, 54, of Laurel, DE – Delaware State Police Dept.

    A Laurel man was arrested and charged with his 8th DUI offense following a crash in Seaford.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, around 3:57 p.m., Wednesday troopers responded to the intersection of northbound Sussex Highway and Concord Road in Seaford regarding a hit-and-run motor vehicle collision.

    The investigation revealed that a black Mazda Tribute had struck a black GMC Acadia that was stopped at a red light at this intersection. The Tribute fled from the scene of the accident and was seen traveling northbound on Sussex Highway.

    Troopers located the vehicle on Sussex Highway north of West Stein Highway a short time later, and a traffic stop was initiated. Contact was made with the driver, identified as 54-year-old Brian Thomas, and signs of impairment were observed, according to police.

    A DUI investigation ensued and Thomas was taken into custody at the scene without incident. No parties involved in the accident were injured.

    A computer inquiry revealed that Thomas had been convicted of seven prior DUI offenses. Thomas was transported to Troop 5, where he was charged with Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (Felony) and numerous traffic offenses. He was arraigned and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $10,004 secured bond.

  • Dover man arrested on burglary charges in Harrington

    Dover man arrested on burglary charges in Harrington

    A Dover man was arrested on burglary charges after police say he allegedly broke into a home in Harrington.

    According to Harrington Police, on Tuesday officers arrested 22-year-old Jamier V. Darling following a domestic related burglary on E. Milby Street in Harrington.

    Arriving officers came into contact with Darling trying to leave the home and he was taken into custody without incident. After speaking to people inside the residence, officers say Darling allegedly entered the house through a window and then engaged in a verbal altercation with the victim.

    Upon hearing the argument, other occupants who were inside at the time intervened and tried to remove Darling from the home.

    A struggle ensued and Darling kicked a sink in the upstairs bathroom causing a pipe to burst and begin to flood the residence, according to police.

    Darling was charged with Burglary First Degree (C Felony) and Criminal Mischief $5000 or more (G Felony). He was presented via video phone at Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released on $12,500 unsecured bond.

  • Greenwood man arrested on strangulation, offensive touching charges

    Greenwood man arrested on strangulation, offensive touching charges

    Ronald L. McBroom, 31, of Greenwood, DE – Harrington Police Dept.

    A Greenwood man was arrested after police say he tried to choke a woman while she held their infant child.

    According to the Harrington Police Department, on Tuesday officers arrested 31-year-old Ronald L. McBroom, of Greenwood, following a domestic incident on Cozy Woods Circle.

    Officers responded to the residence and spoke with the victim, who told police that they were engaged in an argument with McBroom which escalated when McBroom allegedly walked up to the victim and choked her with his hand.

    The victim was holding their infant child when the altercation became physical, according to police. McBroom then began causing damage inside the home before fleeing the scene.

    Warrants were issued for McBrooms arrest. He was contacted by telephone and notified. A short time later he surrendered himself to police without incident.

    He was presented via video phone at Justice of the Peace Court 7 and charged with Strangulation (E Felony), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (A Misdemeanor), Offensive Touching (Misdemeanor), and Criminal Mischief Under $1000 (Misdemeanor). He was released from custody after posting $2,700 secured bond.

  • Body of 65-year-old man found on Baywood golf course in Millsboro

    Body of 65-year-old man found on Baywood golf course in Millsboro

    Delaware State Police are investigating after the body of a 65-year-old man was found on Baywood golf course in Millsboro.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, around 5:41 p.m., Tuesday troopers responded to the area of Long Neck Road and Banks Road for reports that a body had been found on the property of the Baywood golf course.

    The victim, a 65-year-old Millsboro man, was located on the property of the golf course and pronounced dead at the scene.

    The investigation is still ongoing at this time and identification of the victim is pending notification to the next-of-kin.

    The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective A. Bluto by calling 302-741-2859.

  • Seaford man leads police on early morning chase

    Seaford man leads police on early morning chase

    Batson (Delaware State Police)

    A Seaford man has been arrested after leading police on a pursuit early Sunday morning.

     

    Delaware State Police say a trooper attempted to stop 37-year-old Dontra Batson after he was observed traveling at a high rate of speed in his blue Ford Escape on southbound Sussex Highway near Concord Road. Batson allegedly led the pursuit down Concord Road, where he struck a home on Haven Drive and fled on foot. Officers chased him down and apprehended him without further incident.

     

    A further investigation determined that Batson was impaired. Officers also found 2.89 grams of marijuana and 15 grams of cocaine. A Ruger 9mm handgun was also found, and computer check showed Batson was a convicted felon prohibited from having a firearm.

     

    Batson was transported to Troop 5 and charged with the following offenses:

    Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)

    Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)

    Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony)

    Resisting Arrest

    Possession of a Firearm While Under the Influence

    Possession of a Controlled Substance

    Driving Under the Influence

    Possession of Marijuana

    Numerous traffic offenses

     

    Batson was lodged at Sussex Correctional Institution on $23,850 cash bond.

  • Two people injured in Middle School ceremony brawl in Seaford

    Two people injured in Middle School ceremony brawl in Seaford

    Seaford Police are investigating what caused a fight to break out at a middle school celebration on Monday night.

    Officials say just after 7:00 p.m. last night (June 6), the fight broke out between adults at the Seaford Hight School Football Stadium during a Middle School Bridge ceremony. The altercation resulted in two people being transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries.

    It took officers about 20 minutes to control the fight.

    Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to contact Seaford Police at 302-629-6645.

  • Police investigating weekend shooting in Dewey Beach

    Police investigating weekend shooting in Dewey Beach

    It was a hectic scene in Dewey Beach on Saturday night, as officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area of Saulsbury Street just before midnight.

     

    A Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement agent reported hearing and seeing a gunshot and apprehended male suspects, all in their 20s and from the Pennsylvania area. When Dewey Beach Police arrived, it was determined through an investigation that they were involved in a large fight with other suspects who fled the scene. The suspects were taken into custody for questioning and later released. No charges have been filed at this time and police say those arrested were cooperating with the investigation.

     

    Meanwhile, Starboard Restaurant in Dewey Beach is being praised for its response to the shooting, which cause a chaotic scene, as people scrambled to shelter and safety. Initial social media posts stated that the shooting took place at the restaurant, which Dewey Beach Police and the restaurant quickly said was not the case. Instead, the restaurant initiated safety protocols to ensure the safety of staff and patrons.

     

    In a Facebook post, Starboard says “As soon as we were alerted of the incident, our security staff immediately initiated the safety protocols they’ve been trained to follow. They asked all patrons remain inside and “shelter in place” until we confirmed what was actually happening. We took action based on everyone’s best interest and safety, and as soon as we confirmed all was OK, we let everyone know it was safe to proceed with their evening.”

     

    Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Dewey Beach Police at 302-227-1110 or Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333. No injuries were reported and no firearms were recovered on the scene.

  • Milford student representing Delaware in nationwide “Google Doodle” competition

    Milford student representing Delaware in nationwide “Google Doodle” competition

    A Milford 5th grader is being recognized for her drawing, representing Delaware in a nationwide annual contest held by Google.

    Anamirel Campos is a student at Mispillion Elementary School with her Doodle titled “Family Will Always Care for You”. The Doodle for Google is a nationwide competition among K-12 students, representing a drawing from a student in each state and territory.

    The Milford School District says the competition receives thousands of submissions every year, so its quite an achievement to become a state representative. First-round voting recently ended over the weekend, the final five finalists will be announced this month. The winner will be featured on Google for a day, receive a $30,000 scholarship and their school will receive a $50,000 tech package to benefit its computer lab or technology program.

    You can find out more on the nationwide competition at
    https://doodles.google.com/d4g/

  • Tick season is here: Tips to prevent those pesky crawlers from biting you

    Tick season is here: Tips to prevent those pesky crawlers from biting you

    With spring heading into summer – it’s prime time for ticks – and as a result DNREC has partnered with the Division of Public Health to educate the public about the parasitic insects, including where they are found, how to identify different types, and what precautions to take if you’ve been bit.

    Some precautions to avoid or reduce tick exposure include:

    • wearing long sleeves and pants with the legs tucked into your socks
    • wearing light colored clothing to make ticks more visible
    • keep your grass short and remove brush from your yard
    • And always check for ticks after you’ve been outside for an extended period of time, removing them quickly decreasing the chance of disease transmission.

    For more tips on ticks – visit de.gov/ticks

  • Coast Guard and local fire agencies respond to barge fire in Delaware Bay

    Coast Guard and local fire agencies respond to barge fire in Delaware Bay

    U.S. Coast Guard officials along with local fire agencies battled a barge fire early Monday morning in the Delaware Bay.

    According to the U.S. Coast Guard, watchstanders at the Sector Delaware Bay Command Center received a call around 1 a.m., Monday reporting a barge on fire in the Delaware River.

    The barge was reportedly carrying household appliances for scrap.

    Memorial Fire Company Sta 89

    The Coast Guard launched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew to assist and continue to monitor the situation. There are six fire boats on scene from local fire agencies actively fighting the fire.

    “Our highest priority is ensuring the safety of firefighters and response personnel on scene,” said Capt. Jonathan Theel, Sector Delaware Bay Captain of the Port. “We will also work to mitigate any environmental threats and protect the flow of commerce within this vital port.”

    There are no injuries and no evidence of pollution impacting the waterway. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

    The Coast Guard requests that all mariners avoid the area of the incident.

  • Three arrested on drug, weapons charges in Dover

    Three arrested on drug, weapons charges in Dover

    Three men were arrested on drug and weapons charges in Dover.

    According to Dover Police, on Tuesday officers were conducting surveillance for a firearms investigation in the area of New Hope Apartments when they spotted 19-year-old Shaquan Shields leave the area as a passenger in a vehicle.

    Shields was wanted on Family Court capiases and officers contacted him when the vehicle stopped in the parking lot of a convenience store around 2 p.m. on DuPont Highway.

    During the stop, police say they located 50 grams of marijuana in plain view, next to Shields.

    Shields was taken into custody without incident and found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun and 21 bags of heroin, according to police.

    Randall
    Shields
    Payne

    Later that day, around 3:50 p.m., officers tried to make contact with 19-year-old Devon Randall on New Street after police say he was spotted with a handgun.

    When officers approached, Randall reportedly fled into the building and into an apartment.

    Officers located a loaded 9mm handgun in the path where Randall fled from officers.

    Officers then applied for a search warrant for the apartment and were able to take Randall and 18-year-old Zyaier Payne into custody.

    During the search, officers located a loaded .40 caliber handgun and 87 grams of marijuana.

    All three were committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on cash bonds.

  • Georgetown man charged with felony manslaughter following fatal shooting

    Georgetown man charged with felony manslaughter following fatal shooting

    26-year-old Jordan Walls, of Georgetown, DE – Delaware State Police Dept.

    A Georgetown man was arrested on felony manslaughter charges following a shooting that killed a 54-year-old woman.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, the incident occurred around 6 p.m., Tuesday as troopers responded to the 22000 block of Deep Branch Road in Georgetown for reports that a woman had been shot.

    When police arrived they located a 54-year-old female victim inside of the home suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identification is pending notification to next of kin.

    Police say 26-year-old Jordan Walls was showing the victim his weapon at the home and a gunshot was fired. Troopers recovered a 20-gauge shotgun at scene.

    Walls was taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop 4 where he was charged with the following crimes: Manslaughter (Felony) and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony). He was arraigned and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $120,000 cash bond.

  • Police identify bus aide who allegedly assaulted girl with Down Syndrome in Cape Henlopen

    Police identify bus aide who allegedly assaulted girl with Down Syndrome in Cape Henlopen

    Delaware State Police have released the identity of the bus aide who was arrested and charged after allegedly punching an eight-year-old girl with Down Syndrome in the Cape Henlopen School District.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, the incident occurred on January 21, 2022 when Clar Ellen Branca, a now former bus monitor for the Cape Henlopen School District, struck an eight-year-old girl in the head on a school bus.

    A warrant for Branca’s arrest was drafted on March 18 after the school resource officer at Milton Elementary School where the student attends reviewed the case with the Attorney General’s Office.

    Branca turned herself in to State Police on March 21 and was charged with Offensive Touching and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both misdemeanors. The case is still pending adjudication at this time.

    TV Delmarva News Director Rob Petree was able to sit down over the weekend with Ryan Pickett who addressed the Cape Henlopen School Board on Thursday, April 28 where he spoke about an incident that occurred in January on a school bus involving his daughter who has down syndrome.

    Pickett tells us how he and his wife didn’t learn about what happened until two weeks after the incident occurred by Delaware State Police.

    “It happened on January 21, my wife got a phone call from the State Police Resource Officer telling us that there had been an incident on the 21st, which was two weeks before,” Pickett tells our news department. “We immediately wanted to find out what happened, so that was a Friday afternoon and I, over the weekend, left a message with the Superintendent asking to speak with him regarding this.”

    All requests to meet with Cape Henlopen School District Superintendent Bob Fulton went ignored, according to Pickett who said he was finally able to meet with two other district officials who allowed he and his wife to review what happened through the school bus surveillance footage.

    The severity of what happened didn’t really sink in until Pickett and his wife viewed the video footage from the bus that allegedly shows the aide punch their eight-year-old daughter twice in the head, all the while screaming profanities.

    “The video shows her punching our daughter in the head twice,” Pickett stated. “Also, on top of it, they’re saying from the district that they can’t hear what the woman is saying, and that the bus driver didn’t know, but from the video and us watching the video, and I’m confident when you watch the video you’ll hear the same thing, you can hear very clearly what the lady is saying. She’s verbally assaulting our daughter and yelling at her.”

    After it was clear Superintendent Bob Fulton would not meet with the family, Pickett took his concerns to the Cape Henlopen School Board. He was cut off by Board President Dr. Alison Myers who said “sir, that’s your three minutes. Mr. Pickett, that’s your three minutes” to which Pickett responded by saying “I can finish here or with the local news” to which Dr. Myers responded by saying “that’s what you’re going to have to do sir, three minutes is all you have.”

    Interestingly enough, Dr. Myers, according to her biography on the Cape Henlopen School District website, is a former special education teacher. TV Delmarva’s Rob Petree reached out to Dr. Myers in an email:

    ‘You cut him off right at 3 minutes, when the board can and has in the past extended time for sensitive issues like this, but yet you cut him off and were entirely unsympathetic to the issue he and his family are facing due to a lack of due diligence on the part of the school district. Seeing as you are a former special education teacher, how do you justify how you treated Mr. Pickett?‘

    We have yet to receive a response from Dr. Myers.

    Pickett says he received a plethora of praise for his restraint at the callous way the board treated him, but the issue dives much deeper than that and is deeply concerning.

    “It’s funny, I’m getting a lot of respect for my restraint, and I am naturally a very mild-mannered person, anybody who knows me would probably say that, but I was in my seat and there’s a couple times you can hear me yelling and her saying ‘sir’ and the plan with all of this was not to make this some big known thing,” Pickett stressed. “When we originally went to the school district, we wanted help for our daughter and we wanted to make sure that this never happened again, we gave them time to do it, and the district failed on all accounts.”

    Pickett, rightfully upset as he reflected on what transpired, questioned the moral and ethics of the school board as a result of how he was treated, specifically Dr. Alison Myers.

    “They proved that they’re more interested in securing their six figure jobs than they are protecting the children that they’re mandated to protect,” Pickett said. “When I began the speech, I was pretty calm, I think I even joked with them in the very beginning, but this is a situation that is very troubling as a parent. Every time I talk about it, it reminds me that my child was punched by a member of the Cape Henlopen School District, and they’re doing nothing about it. So, to be cut off by a woman with a special education background, a woman who has her own children, and I’m sure she’s a wonderful mother, but she has proven that she doesn’t care about my kids and that tells me that she’s probably not in the position that she needs to be in.”

    Pickett and his family are calling on the school board to investigate the incident and find out if this happened to their daughter more than the one time they’re aware of, and if the aide abused other children. So far, the district has refused to say whether or not they’re investigating.

    We reached out to the Cape Henlopen School District and were issued the following response from Communications Coordinator, Stephanie DeMalto:

    “In response to your May 13, 2022 email, you have requested information pertaining to the conduct of a former employee and related matters. We take the safety of all of our students very seriously and hold all of our employees to the highest of standards. The individual involved is no longer an employee of the District. Under Delaware law, even former employees have privacy rights, and thus we cannot provide further comment.“

    In a follow-up response, we formally requested an interview with Superintendent Bob Fulton and are awaiting a response.

    The Down Syndrome Association of Delaware has issued a statement and is assisting the family of the eight-year-old girl who was assaulted by a bus aide in the Cape Henlopen School District.

    “Recently the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware (DSA of DE) became notified of an incident regarding alleged abuse of an 8-year-old girl with Down syndrome in Cape Henlopen School District. Our organization has been in direct communication with the child’s family and is currently providing support through this extremely difficult situation,” Lauren Camp Gates, Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware stated. “The DSA of DE holds a formal partnership with the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children since 2018. As stated in our Child Protection Policy, we are devoted to the safety of individuals with Down syndrome. We understand that this incident poses great concern to many of our families, particularly those who have individuals in this school district.”

    The organization also linked to our full report in their statement.

    This remains a developing story that TV Delmarva continues to investigate.

  • Down Syndrome Association of Delaware issues statement in response to Cape Henlopen assault

    Down Syndrome Association of Delaware issues statement in response to Cape Henlopen assault

    The Down Syndrome Association of Delaware has issued a statement and is assisting the family of the eight-year-old girl who was assaulted by a bus aide in the Cape Henlopen School District.

    “Recently the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware (DSA of DE) became notified of an incident regarding alleged abuse of an 8-year-old girl with Down syndrome in Cape Henlopen School District. Our organization has been in direct communication with the child’s family and is currently providing support through this extremely difficult situation,” Lauren Camp Gates, Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware stated. “The DSA of DE holds a formal partnership with the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children since 2018. As stated in our Child Protection Policy, we are devoted to the safety of individuals with Down syndrome. We understand that this incident poses great concern to many of our families, particularly those who have individuals in this school district.”

    The organization also linked to our full report in their statement where earlier this week we got a chance to sit down with the father of the little girl who was assaulted.

    TV Delmarva News Director Rob Petree was able to sit down over the weekend with Ryan Pickett who addressed the Cape Henlopen School Board on Thursday, April 28 where he spoke about an incident that occurred in January on a school bus involving his daughter who has down syndrome.

    Pickett tells us how he and his wife didn’t learn about what happened until two weeks after the incident occurred by Delaware State Police.

    “It happened on January 21, my wife got a phone call from the State Police Resource Officer telling us that there had been an incident on the 21st, which was two weeks before,” Pickett tells our news department. “We immediately wanted to find out what happened, so that was a Friday afternoon and I, over the weekend, left a message with the Superintendent asking to speak with him regarding this.”

    All requests to meet with Cape Henlopen School District Superintendent Bob Fulton went ignored, according to Pickett who said he was finally able to meet with two other district officials who allowed he and his wife to review what happened through the school bus surveillance footage.

    The severity of what happened didn’t really sink in until Pickett and his wife viewed the video footage from the bus that allegedly shows the aide punch their eight-year-old daughter twice in the head, all the while screaming profanities.

    “The video shows her punching our daughter in the head twice,” Pickett stated. “Also, on top of it, they’re saying from the district that they can’t hear what the woman is saying, and that the bus driver didn’t know, but from the video and us watching the video, and I’m confident when you watch the video you’ll hear the same thing, you can hear very clearly what the lady is saying. She’s verbally assaulting our daughter and yelling at her.”

    After it was clear Superintendent Bob Fulton would not meet with the family, Pickett took his concerns to the Cape Henlopen School Board. He was cut off by Board President Dr. Alison Myers who said “sir, that’s your three minutes. Mr. Pickett, that’s your three minutes” to which Pickett responded by saying “I can finish here or with the local news” to which Dr. Myers responded by saying “that’s what you’re going to have to do sir, three minutes is all you have.”

    Interestingly enough, Dr. Myers, according to her biography on the Cape Henlopen School District website, is a former special education teacher. TV Delmarva’s Rob Petree reached out to Dr. Myers in an email:

    ‘You cut him off right at 3 minutes, when the board can and has in the past extended time for sensitive issues like this, but yet you cut him off and were entirely unsympathetic to the issue he and his family are facing due to a lack of due diligence on the part of the school district. Seeing as you are a former special education teacher, how do you justify how you treated Mr. Pickett?‘

    We have yet to receive a response from Dr. Myers.

    Pickett says he received a plethora of praise for his restraint at the callous way the board treated him, but the issue dives much deeper than that and is deeply concerning.

    “It’s funny, I’m getting a lot of respect for my restraint, and I am naturally a very mild-mannered person, anybody who knows me would probably say that, but I was in my seat and there’s a couple times you can hear me yelling and her saying ‘sir’ and the plan with all of this was not to make this some big known thing,” Pickett stressed. “When we originally went to the school district, we wanted help for our daughter and we wanted to make sure that this never happened again, we gave them time to do it, and the district failed on all accounts.”

    Pickett, rightfully upset as he reflected on what transpired, questioned the moral and ethics of the school board as a result of how he was treated, specifically Dr. Alison Myers.

    “They proved that they’re more interested in securing their six figure jobs than they are protecting the children that they’re mandated to protect,” Pickett said. “When I began the speech, I was pretty calm, I think I even joked with them in the very beginning, but this is a situation that is very troubling as a parent. Every time I talk about it, it reminds me that my child was punched by a member of the Cape Henlopen School District, and they’re doing nothing about it. So, to be cut off by a woman with a special education background, a woman who has her own children, and I’m sure she’s a wonderful mother, but she has proven that she doesn’t care about my kids and that tells me that she’s probably not in the position that she needs to be in.”

    Pickett and his family are calling on the school board to investigate the incident and find out if this happened to their daughter more than the one time they’re aware of, and if the aide abused other children. So far, the district has refused to say whether or not they’re investigating.

    We reached out to the Cape Henlopen School District and were issued the following response from Communications Coordinator, Stephanie DeMalto:

    “In response to your May 13, 2022 email, you have requested information pertaining to the conduct of a former employee and related matters. We take the safety of all of our students very seriously and hold all of our employees to the highest of standards. The individual involved is no longer an employee of the District. Under Delaware law, even former employees have privacy rights, and thus we cannot provide further comment.“

    In a follow-up response, we formally requested an interview with Superintendent Bob Fulton and are awaiting a response.

    Delaware State Police released the identity of the bus aide who was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, the incident occurred on January 21, 2022 when Clar Ellen Branca, a now former bus monitor for the Cape Henlopen School District, struck an eight-year-old girl in the head on a school bus.

    A warrant for Branca’s arrest was drafted on March 18 after the school resource officer at Milton Elementary School where the student attends reviewed the case with the Attorney General’s Office.

    Branca turned herself in to State Police on March 21 and was charged with Offensive Touching and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both misdemeanors. The case is still pending adjudication at this time.

    This remains a developing story that TV Delmarva continues to investigate.

  • Case Story | Dorchester/Sussex County Hailstorm

    Case Story | Dorchester/Sussex County Hailstorm

    I will start off to say we for sure had a unicorn of hail storm here across areas of Delmarva. I’ve been studying a lot of storms over the years across Delmarva and this one was in the top tier of hail storms for the sure because of the damage it caused just from the hail alone.

    Cloud Phase Distinction Satellite Of The Supercell

    Let’s start off with the elephant in the room that this was a long tracked supercell thunderstorm as discrete as you could possibility get. Didn’t have to share resources with other storms in the environment. And I’m going to be real with you, the environment this storm was in for what it produced is actually astonishing. Storms of this magnitude producing widespread 2in diameter hail or greater for this long duration is something you would normally see out in the central plains. With the very cold air aloft and the very unstable atmosphere. Our supercell yesterday was only under 1500 j/kg of MLCAPE where storms I’ve normally seen with this kind of hail has at least twice that if not more. This one lone supercell took advantage of a disturbed free environment all to itself and used the maximum instability the region had. Not to mention tapping in the the 50kt bulk shear in the region to keep supercellular characteristics

    Hail Streak Across Western Shore Of Maryland & Central Delmarva

    This storm first developed just the west of Washington D.C as a single cluster before taking off as a HP Supercell throughout Prince Georges and Calvert County. Confirmed multiple locations with > 2in diameter hail with a single report of 3in in Diameter in Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County. Before moving across the Chesapeake keeping the same intensity across Delmarva.

    Cross Section & SFC Radar In Dorchester County

    Here’s what took me by surprise. Normally getting large hail of this size, you need a storm that is very tall in the atmosphere. On radar estimates, we had on average 40-45 kft (40-45,000 feet) cloud tops with one singular overshooting top to 45 kft. Normally seeing 2in hail you need very cold cloud tops closer to 50-55kft and cold temperatures aloft which is something we do not get here in the warmer seasons. Looking at radar from KDOX and GOES-16 Satellite we had one persistent updraft on the southern side of the storm. The hail core was astonishing. We had the updraft all the way to the very top of the storm at 40kft which is amazing for how small of an area it covered.

    Keep in mind I want to share with you the logistics of how strong of a updraft is needed to suspend >2in hail in a storm. For the reported 2 to 3 in Diameter hail you need a updraft speed of 70-85 MPH upward velocity. Looking at some the hail sizes and shapes we have a mixture of round and spikey hail meaning there has been some warmer air with some melting on the way up. Even more evidence that there was some strong upward forcing of water molecules in this small but potent updraft.

    James Phillips Jr / East New Market
    Cory Polidore / Linkwood, MD
    Megan Elzey / Linkwood, MD
    Lianne Hosmer / Laurel, DE

    Impressive damage across areas of Dorchester and Western Sussex County from this one storm yesterday. Severe damage to vehicles, windows blown out, siding a complete loss. Not to mention reports of a hail accumulations for areas around Cambridge. Very common for hail sizes around baseballs causing significant damage to property.

    Average of >2in Hail Events In The US. Delmarva Is At The Bottom Of The Scale

    Goes to show you, Delmarva can defy the odds of getting Central Plains type of storms. Whether it’s a tornado outbreak, a derecho or in our case this time around, a severe hail event. Always remember, it can only take one storm to make a disaster. We had a very rare event happen yesterday that unfortunately had some devastating consequences. Luckily nobody was hurt and property can be rebuilt.

  • Four Delaware farm families honored with Century Farm Award for 100 years of farming

    Four Delaware farm families honored with Century Farm Award for 100 years of farming

    Governor Carney, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Nikko Brady, and state legislators honored four Delaware farm families for their commitment to keeping farmland within the family for 100 years.

    “There is no better way to kick off Delaware Grown Week than to highlight the history of Delaware agriculture with the presentation of this year’s Century Farm Awards,” said Governor John C. Carney. “We are fortunate to have generations of farm families still engaged in agriculture here in Delaware.”

    The Delaware Century Farm Program was established in 1987 to honor farm families who have owned and farmed their land for at least 100 years. The farms must include at least 10 acres of the original parcel or gross more than $10,000 annually in agricultural sales.

    With the announcement of these four new families, Delaware will have recognized 152 Century Farms over the past 35 years. Delaware Century Farm families receive a sign for their farms, an engraved plate, a certificate, and legislative tributes.

    “While the Century Farm Program has been in existence for 35 years, we know there are many Century Farms we have recognized that have been in the family for 150 years…200 years or even longer,” said Deputy Secretary Nikko Brady. “Secretary Scuse and I have charged the Aglands team to research these farms so we can recognize those families that continue to pass their farms down to the next generation. Keeping land in agriculture is essential to the success of our industry.”

    2022 Delaware Century Farm Awardees
    Lana Rae Eashum and Family (Dagsboro, Sussex County): The Eashum family is recognized for their 36-acre family farm located in Dagsboro Hundred.

    Mr. John H. Baker purchased a 36-acre and 15-square-perch farm from Isaac W. Timmons Etux on September 28, 1899, for $11,000. After John died in 1961, the farm was left to his daughter Louise Marie Baker by operation of law. On August 29, 1994, the farm was sold to Meredith Kay Emory for $1.00 and bought back the same day by Louise Marie Baker. When Louise Marie died in 1995, she left the farm to her son, J. Caleb Eashum. In 2014, J. Caleb added his wife, Lana Rae Eashum, to the deed. In 2016, J. Caleb passed away.

    Since then, his wife, Lana Rae Eashum has owned the Eashum Family Farm. Mrs. Eashum’s daughter Denise Shortridge and her husband C.J., who now lives on the farm, received the award on her behalf.

    Charles L. Everett, Teresa L. (Everett) Timmons, and Chad L. Everett and Families (Clayton, Kent County): The Everett family is recognized for their 274-acre farm located in Kenton Hundred.

    The original 417-acre farm was purchased by Levi L. Everett and Katherine F. Everett for $12,750 from James M. Downs on April 23, 1920. When Levi died, the farm was left to his wife Katherine and their four children, Levi, Andrew, Roy, and James. In 1936, Andrew purchased the entire farm from his mother for $6,500. After he passed in 1981, his will split the farm between his two sons, George Lee Everett and Robert L. Everett. George and his wife, Louise, purchased the 274-acre farm parcel in 1988. In 2014, with the passing of Louise, the farm was willed to her three children, Charles L. Everett, Teresa L. (Everett) Timmons, and Chad L. Everett.

    This farm produces corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and hay. The family has raised dairy and beef cows, along with hogs. In 2004, the farm had an easement established for Aglands Preservation, permanently preserving this farmland. The Everett Family has also been involved in wildlife conservation. They have four ponds on the farm and have raised and released quail, Canadian Geese, and Mallard Ducks, along with establishing dove plots.

    Stanley L. Johnson and Family (Millsboro, Sussex County): Stanley Johnson and his family are recognized for their 25-acre farm in Indian River Hundred.

    Mr. George T. Johnson purchased the 25-acre farm from Annie J. Hudson, John B., and Martha J. Mitchell on November 21, 1918, for $2,000. In 1976, George passed away, leaving the farm to his wife, Ella Moore Johnson, with their four children, Elizabeth Smith, Ruth Hudson, Granville L. Johnson, and Richard C. Johnson. Ella died in February 1989, leaving Granville as the Executor of her Estate. In July 1989, Richard and his wife, Patricia, purchased the farm from Granville. In 2011, the farm was put into the Richard C. Johnson 2011 Asset Preservation Trust by Co-Trustees, Stanley and Thomas C., children of Stanley and Patricia. In 2018, Stanley and his wife Linda purchased the farm from the trust.

    Looking back, Stanley’s grandfather, George T. Johnson, raised chickens on the farm for Townsends. The main crops grown on this Delaware farm include corn and soybeans, but they are looking to transition into more specialty crops as the younger generation gets more involved.

    Alvin and Normal Warner (Milford, Kent County): Mr. Alvin Warner, and his wife, Norma, were honored at the program for their 29.3374-acre farm in Milford Hundred.

    Mr. James W. Warner purchased a 121-acre farm from Willie and Jennie Russell on January 2, 1921, for $4,500. When he died, the farm was left to his wife Addie V. Warner, and their 11 children, Blanche Eisenbrey, Gordon Warner, Maude Hall, Harvey Warner, Floyd Warner, Hazel Waldron, Stella Willis, Ethel Burns, Wilbur Warner, Howard Warner, and Doris Raughley. In January 1945, son Howard purchased the 121-acre farm from his mother for $1.00. In 1976, Howard’s son Alvin and his wife Norma purchased the 29.3374 acres from the original farm. By 1979, it was determined through a survey that under Howard and his wife, Jeannette, the farm was portioned into various percentages of land owned between Joan M. and Earl H. McMullen, Robert L. and Kathleen A. Warner, and Alvin H. and Norma V. Warner. Alvin and Norma’s portion included the farm they had purchased and an additional 3.7249 acres. In 1981, Alvin and Norma transferred the 29.3374 acres farm to Warner Enterprises, Inc.

    Previously a dairy farm, as evidenced by the milk house and cowshed that still stand on the farm, the family transitioned to raising poultry in 1977. They raise small grains, corn, soybeans, and Delaware Grown vegetables and produce to sell at their on-farm market.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Father speaks out after daughter with Down Syndrome was assaulted in the Cape Henlopen School District

    EXCLUSIVE: Father speaks out after daughter with Down Syndrome was assaulted in the Cape Henlopen School District

    The father of the young girl with Down Syndrome who was assaulted in the Cape Henlopen School District is speaking out in an exclusive interview where he tells us his story of what happened and calls out district officials and the school board.

    TV Delmarva News Director Rob Petree was able to sit down over the weekend with Ryan Pickett who addressed the Cape Henlopen School Board on Thursday, April 28 where he spoke about an incident that occurred in January on a school bus involving his daughter who has down syndrome.

    Pickett tells us how he and his wife didn’t learn about what happened until two weeks after the incident occurred by Delaware State Police.

    “It happened on January 21, my wife got a phone call from the State Police Resource Officer telling us that there had been an incident on the 21st, which was two weeks before,” Pickett tells our news department. “We immediately wanted to find out what happened, so that was a Friday afternoon and I, over the weekend, left a message with the Superintendent asking to speak with him regarding this.”

    All requests to meet with Cape Henlopen School District Superintendent Bob Fulton went ignored, according to Pickett who said he was finally able to meet with two other district officials who allowed he and his wife to review what happened through the school bus surveillance footage.

    The severity of what happened didn’t really sink in until Pickett and his wife viewed the video footage from the bus that allegedly shows the aide punch their eight-year-old daughter twice in the head, all the while screaming profanities.

    “The video shows her punching our daughter in the head twice,” Pickett stated. “Also, on top of it, they’re saying from the district that they can’t hear what the woman is saying, and that the bus driver didn’t know, but from the video and us watching the video, and I’m confident when you watch the video you’ll hear the same thing, you can hear very clearly what the lady is saying. She’s verbally assaulting our daughter and yelling at her.”

    After it was clear Superintendent Bob Fulton would not meet with the family, Pickett took his concerns to the Cape Henlopen School Board. He was cut off by Board President Dr. Alison Myers who said “sir, that’s your three minutes. Mr. Pickett, that’s your three minutes” to which Pickett responded by saying “I can finish here or with the local news” to which Dr. Myers responded by saying “that’s what you’re going to have to do sir, three minutes is all you have.”

    Interestingly enough, Dr. Myers, according to her biography on the Cape Henlopen School District website, is a former special education teacher. TV Delmarva’s Rob Petree reached out to Dr. Myers in an email:

    ‘You cut him off right at 3 minutes, when the board can and has in the past extended time for sensitive issues like this, but yet you cut him off and were entirely unsympathetic to the issue he and his family are facing due to a lack of due diligence on the part of the school district. Seeing as you are a former special education teacher, how do you justify how you treated Mr. Pickett?‘

    We have yet to receive a response from Dr. Myers.

    Pickett says he received a plethora of praise for his restraint at the callous way the board treated him, but the issue dives much deeper than that and is deeply concerning.

    “It’s funny, I’m getting a lot of respect for my restraint, and I am naturally a very mild-mannered person, anybody who knows me would probably say that, but I was in my seat and there’s a couple times you can hear me yelling and her saying ‘sir’ and the plan with all of this was not to make this some big known thing,” Pickett stressed. “When we originally went to the school district, we wanted help for our daughter and we wanted to make sure that this never happened again, we gave them time to do it, and the district failed on all accounts.”

    Pickett, rightfully upset as he reflected on what transpired, questioned the moral and ethics of the school board as a result of how he was treated, specifically Dr. Alison Myers.

    “They proved that they’re more interested in securing their six figure jobs than they are protecting the children that they’re mandated to protect,” Pickett said. “When I began the speech, I was pretty calm, I think I even joked with them in the very beginning, but this is a situation that is very troubling as a parent. Every time I talk about it, it reminds me that my child was punched by a member of the Cape Henlopen School District, and they’re doing nothing about it. So, to be cut off by a woman with a special education background, a woman who has her own children, and I’m sure she’s a wonderful mother, but she has proven that she doesn’t care about my kids and that tells me that she’s probably not in the position that she needs to be in.”

    Pickett and his family are calling on the school board to investigate the incident and find out if this happened to their daughter more than the one time they’re aware of, and if the aide abused other children. So far, the district has refused to say whether or not they’re investigating.

    We reached out to the Cape Henlopen School District and were issued the following response from Communications Coordinator, Stephanie DeMalto:

    “In response to your May 13, 2022 email, you have requested information pertaining to the conduct of a former employee and related matters. We take the safety of all of our students very seriously and hold all of our employees to the highest of standards. The individual involved is no longer an employee of the District. Under Delaware law, even former employees have privacy rights, and thus we cannot provide further comment.“

    In a follow-up response, we formally requested an interview with Superintendent Bob Fulton and are awaiting a response.

    Delaware State Police released the identity of the bus aide who was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, the incident occurred on January 21, 2022 when Clar Ellen Branca, a now former bus monitor for the Cape Henlopen School District, struck an eight-year-old girl in the head on a school bus.

    A warrant for Branca’s arrest was drafted on March 18 after the school resource officer at Milton Elementary School where the student attends reviewed the case with the Attorney General’s Office.

    Branca turned herself in to State Police on March 21 and was charged with Offensive Touching and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both misdemeanors. The case is still pending adjudication at this time.

    This remains a developing story that TV Delmarva continues to investigate.

  • Sussex County parent speaks out after daughter with down syndrome was assaulted by staff in the Cape Henlopen School District

    Sussex County parent speaks out after daughter with down syndrome was assaulted by staff in the Cape Henlopen School District

    The father of a child with down syndrome who attends Milton Elementary School is speaking out after his daughter was allegedly assaulted by a bus aide.

    Ryan Pickett addressed the Cape Henlopen School Board on Thursday, April 28 where he spoke about an incident that occurred in January on a school bus involving his daughter who has down syndrome. He was granted three minutes to speak where he told board members how his daughter was reportedly punched by a bus aide and that district officials did not notify him or investigate the matter in a timely manner.

    Pickett was dismayed to learn of the incident, not from district personnel, but rather from the police who called to notify him of what happened two weeks after the incident occurred.

    “I came here today to share that my eight year old was physically assaulted by a district employee while riding the bus to school in January of this year, and to convey our concern over the lack of action taken by the leadership in the Cape Henlopen School District as a result,” Pickett told the board. “Two weeks after the incident in question my wife received a phone call from the State Police to inform us that our daughter was hit by a bus aide.”

    After Pickett and his wife learned of what transpired, they immediately contacted the Cape Henlopen School District Offices and requested a meeting with leadership to discuss what happened and to find out why they were not notified.

    “Shocked and devastated, we contacted district office and asked to meet with Superintendent Fulton. We were eager to meet and offered to do so at a time of their choosing,” Pickett said. “Despite being made aware of abuse of a child on his watch, Mr. Fulton refused to meet with my wife and I. I remain curious to know what was more important to Mr. Fulton than reported child abuse in the Cape Henlopen School District on that day.”

    After it was clear Superintendent Bob Fulton would not meet with the family, Pickett says he was contacted by other officials in the district who set up a meeting where he was able to view footage from the bus that reportedly showed the employee physically punching his daughter.

    “At the meeting, my wife and I watched the bus video in which the aide punched our child in the head twice,” Pickett stated. “We could also hear the verbal abuse the aide gave towards our daughter, despite the severity of the situation, the only assurance we were given was that the aide would never be on our child’s bus again. At the time of the meeting, the aide was still employed with the district. Let me be clear, there is a video of a Cape employee punching and verbally abusing our daughter with special needs.”

    Around that time, Pickett was cut off by Cape Henlopen School Board President Dr. Alison Myers who said “sir, that’s your three minutes. Mr. Pickett, that’s your three minutes” to which Pickett responded by saying “I can finish here or with the local news” to which Dr. Myers responded by saying “that’s what you’re going to have to do sir, three minutes is all you have.”

    Interestingly enough, Dr. Myers, according to her biography on the Cape Henlopen School District website, is a former special education teacher. TV Delmarva’s Rob Petree reached out to Dr. Myers in an email:

    ‘You cut him off right at 3 minutes, when the board can and has in the past extended time for sensitive issues like this, but yet you cut him off and were entirely unsympathetic to the issue he and his family are facing due to a lack of due diligence on the part of the school district. Seeing as you are a former special education teacher, how do you justify how you treated Mr. Pickett?‘

    According to Pickett, the bus aide who assaulted his daughter was arrested and charged by Delaware State Police; however, it remains unclear at this time whether or not the employee in question is still employed with the district.

    We still have not received a response from Dr. Myers or officials with the Cape Henlopen School District requesting additional information. TV Delmarva News Director Rob Petree is set to meet with Ryan Pickett this weekend to hear the full story and further investigate the matter.

  • Vehicle shot seven times in Dover

    Vehicle shot seven times in Dover

    The Dover Police Department is investigating a shooting that damaged an unoccupied vehicle on Thursday night.

    According to the Dover Police Department, the incident occurred around 9:54 p.m. as officers responded to the Capitol Green neighborhood for a report of shots fired.

    Shortly thereafter, police say a 23-year-old male notified police that his vehicle had been struck by gunfire multiple times.

    The vehicle was parked in the rear alley of the 400 Block of New Castle Avenue and was struck at least seven times.

    Anyone with any information is urged to contact police.

  • Over 100 bronze vases stolen from plots at Milton’s Henlopen Memorial Cemetery

    Over 100 bronze vases stolen from plots at Milton’s Henlopen Memorial Cemetery

    Delaware State Police are investigating after more than 100 bronze flower vases were stolen from plots at the Henlopen Memorial Cemetery in Milton.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, on the morning of May 2, troopers responded to Henlopen Memorial Park Cemetery in Milton regarding a theft complaint.

    Police arrived and learned that over 100 bronze flower vases have been stolen from cemetery plots since 2021.

    Troopers are asking that anyone who had a vase purchased and placed for a deceased relative or friend in Henlopen Memorial Park to contact Trooper First Class R. Prettyman of Troop 7 at 302-703-3322.

    Anyone with information regarding these thefts are urged to contact police.

  • BREAKING | Lewes beaches will be unguarded this season as city faces lifeguard shortage

    BREAKING | Lewes beaches will be unguarded this season as city faces lifeguard shortage

    The City of Lewes has announced that its beaches will be unguarded this season as officials have been unable to recruit certified lifeguards.

    TV Delmarva’s Rob Petree spoke to Lewes City Manager Ann Marie Townshend who said the city has went above and beyond to recruit lifeguards, but has ultimately been unable to attract the certified staff and as a result both Savannah Beach and Johnnie Walker Beach will be unguarded this season.

    “We have been unable to recruit sufficient lifeguards to effectively guard the beaches,” Townshend said. “We only had two lifeguards returning from last year and, of those who applied this season, only one was certified.”

    In past years, the City of Lewes has employed at least ten active lifeguards to protect and serve on the beaches. Last year, the city was short by two, and while they made due with what they could in 2021, many of their lifeguards left the town early to return to college.

    City officials took several steps to try to recruit lifeguards ahead of this year’s season, including increasing the starting wage for their lifeguards from $13 an hour to $16, and calling around to other municipalities to see if they could spare some of their lifeguards to help out. Ultimately, all efforts fell short.

    Lewes City Councilman Khalil Saliba issued the following statement to WGMD News where it appears that the ‘icing on the cake’ to this issue was when it was learned that their long-time lifeguard captain would not be returning this season.

    “There has been an almost frantic effort to recruit more guards but will no luck,” Saliba said in the statement to WGMD. “Our Captain of nearly 18 years abruptly left for a new job which hurt as she was instrumental in recruitment. The worker shortage has even hit what used to be a very desirable summer job.”

    The City is taking all available measures at this time to develop a communication strategy to ensure that the public is aware of that the beaches will be unguarded this season. Signage will be erected on the beach and public awareness efforts will be underway moving forward.

    “It’s better to not do it than to do it poorly,” Townshend concluded. “Lives could be at risk.”

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/11/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/11/2022


    Top Stories: Georgetown Council approves tiny home proposal for the homeless. Two boys were shot and injured in a Dover shooting. And Biden’s job approval rating drops in Delaware.

    Weather: An isolated sprinkle or shower may be possible for the rest of this evening as even more clouds begin to settle in. More gray and breezy conditions will be back on Thursday with rain developing during the overnight hours. Rain is in the forecast this weekend for the last hoorah for this coastal storm before much warmer and drier weather settles in.

  • Rehoboth teen arrested on drug, weapons charges in Milton

    Rehoboth teen arrested on drug, weapons charges in Milton

    18-year-old Kyree Coxon, of Rehoboth Beach, DE – Delaware State Police Dept.

    A Rehoboth teen was arrested on drug and weapons charges in Milton.

    According to Delaware State Police, around 11:30 a.m., Monday troopers on patrol in the Milton area spotted a black Cadillac sedan traveling northbound on Coastal Highway south of Broadkill Road at a high rate of speed.

    The trooper conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the operator and sole occupant, identified as 18-year-old Kyree Coxon, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

    As police made contact with Coxon, troopers reportedly smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle’s interior.

    Coxon was subsequently taken into custody at the scene without incident. A search of the Cadillac led to the discovery of approximately 64.47 grams of marijuana, a FHN 9-millimeter handgun, and over $1,100 in suspected drug proceeds.

    Coxon was charged with Possession of a Firearm While Possessing a Controlled Substance (Felony), Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony), Possession of Marijuana Other Than Personal Use Quantity, and numerous traffic offenses. He was arraigned and released on $8,500 unsecured bond.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/10/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/10/2022

    Top Stories: A Millsboro man has died following a serious crash in Lewes. A Millsboro woman was arrested on assault charges after police say she fought a co-worker in the parking lot of a local nursing home. And DART First State is looking for bus drivers to help fill the demand for the busy busing season at the beach.

    Weather: More cloudy and breezy conditions will continue into the overnight hours tonight. Similar ordeal once we get into Wednesday with more clouds, breezy conditions, and a cooler day overall. We will see that coastal low make a return towards the weekend with more rain chances but warmer weather is finally on the way towards the weekend.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/9/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/9/2022

    Top Stories: Delaware State Police are looking for a Delmar, Delaware man wanted on numerous charges. The Delaware House of Representatives voted for the second time this session to legalize marijuana, and this time it passed. And First Lady Jill Biden was in Slovakia over the weekend meeting with displaced Ukrainians.

    Weather: it may be sunny and all the rain is gone, for now, we are still dealing with the issues with this late-season coastal storm here on Delmarva. Clouds will return a little bit tonight with more cooler days ahead. Not to mention more rounds of coastal flooding with each high tide this week. But the good news is warmer weather is finally on the way later this week.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/6/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/6/2022

    Top Stories: Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings has announced a $141 million settlement with TurboTax. Delaware’s U.S. Senator Chris Coons speaks out against the possibility of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade. And Governor Carney Proclaims May 2022 as Trauma Awareness Month.

    Weather: We are patiently awaiting the arrival of our long-duration late-season nor’easter moving into the region tonight. Expect heavy rainfall, gusty winds, scattered strong thunderstorms, and the primary threat being coastal flooding. These conditions will continue throughout the entire weekend but the good news is we have much drier and warmer weather ahead next week.

  • DNREC, DEMA Sponsor Delaware Flood Awareness Week

    DNREC, DEMA Sponsor Delaware Flood Awareness Week

    Governor John Carney has proclaimed May 9 through 13 Delaware Flood Awareness Week to inform residents about flood risk, likelihood of flooding from extreme weather events brought on by climate change, the importance of having a flood insurance policy, and flood remediation for property damage or loss. “Every Delawarean should make sure that they are prepared for unexpected flood events,” said Governor Carney. “Flood Awareness Week allows for federal, state and local emergency agencies to increase public awareness of flood risks. Explore the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s resources to make sure that you’re prepared.”

    Throughout next week DNREC and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) will highlight numerous resources for flood awareness in Delaware, to include an interactive quiz, webinar and floodplain mapping tool.

    “Delaware is the lowest-lying state and has the lowest average land elevation in the country – we are already susceptible to flooding and becoming more at risk from sea level rise,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “With climate change spawning more extreme weather events, including hurricanes and tornadoes, flooding is an issue that we must confront with greater urgency. It’s imperative to get word out on flooding and flood risk management.”

    “Delaware is experiencing significant flooding with increasing frequency in areas that have not previously experienced flood events. We encourage residents to be proactive to understand how flooding could affect them and take the appropriate precautions to protect their property and families,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen Jr.

    Much of the impetus behind Delaware Flood Awareness Week is helping the public become better informed about flood insurance, which provides policy holders with financial security and ensures quick recovery of personal property from flood damage. Delawareans can learn how much they know with a new interactive online flood quiz, available on Monday, May 9 from @DelawareDNREC social media pages. The quiz and much more information about flood awareness also can be found at de.gov/floodrisk.

    Much of the focus for Flood Awareness Week is on the tools and resources available to help Delawareans understand flood risk and be proactive addressing it on a personal property level. DNREC and DEMA staff will be on hand virtually and via social media during the week to explain flood insurance issues, to help residents access a flood insurance policy, and to advise on mitigation assistance resources in Delaware.

    On Tuesday, May 10, DNREC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a flood insurance virtual open house, with two hour-long discussions, in the morning from 10 to 11 a.m. and an evening session from 6 to 7 p.m. The open house offers expert commentary from the state and federal level, and the private sector on flood insurance and Risk Rating 2.0, the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) new risk rating and pricing methodology. At the end of each open house, the panel will address general questions from attendees via Zoom chat. More information, including Zoom registration, can be found at de.gov/floodrisk.

    DNREC’s Floodplain Management program will drive more flood insurance and flood awareness outreach later this month, with a DART bus traveling Sussex County routes outfitted with a graphic depiction of a flooded Delaware community under the heading “FLOODS. Are You Prepared?”

    The Wednesday, May 11 theme “Flood Safety” is highlighted by more social media and outreach from DEMA, carrying messages such as “Flooding Can Be Dangerous” and, particularly in Delaware, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” when encountering flooded roadways – a typical passenger vehicle can be swept away toward a tragic outcome by as little as 12 inches of onrushing water.

    The flood awareness theme for Thursday, May 12 is “Know Your Flood Risk,” with a goal of encouraging Delawareans to research flood risk for their property. DNREC supports this effort by providing the Delaware Flood Planning Tool app, which can be found at de.gov/floodplanning. DNREC’s social media awareness message for the day is “Anywhere it rains, it can flood. Know your flood risk. Use the Delaware Flood Planning Tool to view other flood risk information for your property.”

    For the Friday, May 13, and the flood awareness theme of “Remediation and Mitigation,” DEMA will turn to social media for explaining how actions taken now can reduce Delaware’s vulnerability to future disasters – how, on average, $1 spent on hazard mitigation provides Delawareans $4 in future benefits. The theme extends to helping Delawareans understand the benefits of mitigating at the local level, including how they can apply for mitigation grants through their local communities.

    The finale for flood awareness week outreach efforts is a bonus for the next generation of Delaware property owners. DNREC’s Floodplain Management Program will unveil a working model of a floodplain Saturday, May 14 at the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship’s “Water Family Fest” at the James Farm Ecological Reserve that helps young people understand flooding and its impacts. The Enviroscape tabletop is a hands-on way to demonstrate flooding and floodplain management concepts – along with showing how flooding on the floodplain can be caused by unplanned development, and the role wetlands play in helping mitigate flooding impacts.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/5/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/5/2022

    Top Stories: We sit down with a candidate running for the Smyrna School Board. Police are investigating after a vehicle was shot in Dover. And May Is Viral Hepatitis Awareness Month in Delaware.

    Weather: Clouds will still be remaining in place as we head into the overnight hours tonight. We are continuing to watch out for the threat of heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and coastal flooding concerns throughout the weekend all thanks to a late-season nor’easter.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/4/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/4/2022

    Top Stories: Dover Police arrest suspect in Irish Mike’s shooting. Two charges in boating equipment thefts in Sussex County. Millsboro man arrested on drug & weapons charges.

    Weather: Showers and a few isolated thunderstorms are possible for the rest of this afternoon into the early evening hours. We get a break from the wet weather for your Thursday with slightly cooler conditions. But the big story is a late season nor’easter that will be battering the coastlines during the holiday weekend.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/3/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/3/2022

    Top Stories: Sussex County man sentenced to a hate crime. Dover Police investigate brawl that led to shots fired at Schutte Park. Dolly Parton is coming to Delaware.

    Weather: we will still be under the impacts of a stationary boundary as we head into the overnight hours with showers developing just after midnight. We will see the sun return on Wednesday with very warm temperatures and the possibility of seeing an afternoon thunderstorm. We get a break from the precipitation on Thursday but there is the chance of a coastal storm to finish out the week.

  • Sussex County man sentenced to two years in prison in hate crime conviction

    Sussex County man sentenced to two years in prison in hate crime conviction

    James Raab, 38, of Laurel, DE

    A Sussex County man has been sentenced to two years in prison for a hate crime involving a neighbor.

    James Raab, of Laurel, was sentenced on April 22 after pleading guilty to felony Hate Crime, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, and Resisting Arrest.

    Raab, 38, was arrested following investigation into an incident in which he threatened a neighbor with a knife while yelling racial slurs, according to the Delaware Attorney General’s Office.

    “These crimes have the potential to shake entire communities and rob them of their sense of peace and security,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “We cannot allow racial, religious, or other hate-motivated crime to fester. I am grateful to the prosecutors in the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust and Delaware State Police for working to ensure that hate has no safe quarter in this state.”

    Raab has remained incarcerated since his arrest on May, 25, 2021. This sentence was secured by Deputy Attorney General David Skoranski with the assistance of DOJ Paralegal Trisha McGinnis following an investigation led by the Delaware State Police, Troop 5.

  • Dolly Parton to attend press conference alongside Governor Carney in Wilmington for Imagination Library

    Dolly Parton to attend press conference alongside Governor Carney in Wilmington for Imagination Library

    Governor John Carney, First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, and Dr. Annie Norman of the Delaware Libraries will welcome Dolly Parton on Thursday for a statewide celebration of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

    In Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Delaware program, children ages birth to 5 years old receive a free book in the mail each month to inspire a love of reading.

    Families can sign up for the Imagination Library on Delaware Libraries’ website: lib.de.us/imagination

    Children whose parents enroll them with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through Delaware libraries receive one new book in the mail each month from birth until the child’s fifth birthday at no cost to the family, creating a personal library of as many as 60 books that can help form the foundation of a child’s early reading experience. Information and registration are available online through the Delaware Division of Libraries.

    Governor Carney announced a pilot launch of the Imagination Library program in five Delaware school districts in his 2020 State of the State address. Beginning in February, the Division of Libraries partnered with 13 local public libraries to make the program available to families within the pilot districts. So far, more than 3,800 children have been enrolled in the program and received more than 16,000 books.

    The Imagination Library program is also an important component of the First Chance Delaware initiative for children, led by First Lady Carney. The mission of First Chance Delaware includes promoting learning readiness through literacy and parent-child engagement.

    This event will be livestreamed on Governor Carney’s Facebook page, YouTube, and de.gov/live.

  • Lincoln man charged with resisting arrest

    Lincoln man charged with resisting arrest

    Andrew White, 35, of Lincoln, DE – Delaware State Police Dept.

    A wanted Lincoln man was arrested on felony charges after police say he resisted arrested.

    According to Delaware State Police, around 1:30 p.m., Sunday troopers on patrol witnessed 35-year-old Andrew White walking northbound on Greentop Road, south of Ross Road.

    The trooper was familiar with White and knew that he had several active warrants for his arrest, according to police. A traffic stop was initiated and during the interaction, police say White fled the scene on foot.

    After a brief foot pursuit, the trooper tried to take White into custody, but police say he resisted and had a physical altercation with the trooper.

    White was successfully taken into custody and the trooper was not injured during the incident, but there was damage to his uniform.

    White was charged with Resisting Arrest (Felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Mischief, and Disorderly Conduct. He was arraigned and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $2,400 secured bond.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/2/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 5/2/2022

    Top Stories: A cloud of secrecy surrounds Smyrna School District. FOIA request filed as DelDOT remains silent on toll scandal. Clayton man arrested on child pornography charges.

    Weather: A warm and sunny afternoon today will lead to an increase in clouds once we get into the overnight hours tonight. Tomorrow will be a few degrees colder with a persistent onshore breeze keeping our coastal location a little bit on the chilly side. Multiple rain chances are expected this week all the way into this weekend.

  • Wilmington man charged with 8th DUI in Lewes

    Wilmington man charged with 8th DUI in Lewes

    Donald Sheldon, 51, of Wilmington, DE – Delaware State Police

    A Wilmington man was arrested on his 8th DUI charge in Lewes.

    According to the Delaware State Police Department, around 1:59 p.m., Saturday a trooper on patrol observed a blue Ford Expedition traveling at a high rate of speed on northbound Coastal Highway in the area of Dartmouth Drive.

    A traffic stop was initiated and the trooper made contact with the operator of the Ford, identified as 51-year-old Donald Sheldon. Upon contact with Sheldon, the trooper reportedly observed signs of impairment and a DUI investigation ensued.

    Sheldon was subsequently taken into custody at the scene without incident. A computer inquiry revealed that Sheldon had been convicted for seven prior DUI offenses.

    Sheldon was charged with Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (Felony) and Speeding. He
    was arraigned and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $20,050 secured bond.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/29/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/29/2022

    BREAKING NEWS | Large-scale brush fire reported near Greenwood.

    Top Stories: Virginia man killed in serious crash near Bridgeville. A Dover woman was arrested on robbery charges. Governor extends the emergency order for another 30 days.

    Weather: Critical fire weather conditions continue throughout the afternoon and evening hours as we have another night of clear skies and chilly temperatures. Saturday we will finally be done with the windy conditions and will favor some even warmer temperatures as well. The rain chances return from Sunday through Wednesday with even warmer temperatures on the horizon.

  • Virginia man killed in tractor trailer crash near Bridgeville

    Virginia man killed in tractor trailer crash near Bridgeville

    A Virginia man has died following a serious crash with a tractor trailer near Bridgeville.

    According to Delaware State Police, the crash occurred just before 2 p.m., Wednesday as a 2022 Freightliner Truck Tractor towing a 2012 Viking Trailer was traveling westbound on Seashore Highway approaching the intersection of Scotts Store Road.

    A 2021 Nissan Altima was stopped at the stop sign on at the intersection.

    For unknown reasons, police say the driver of the Altima failed to remain stopped as the Freightliner approached and pulled into its path while turning left onto Seashore Highway.

    The Freightliner tried to brake and swerve to avoid striking the Nissan, but was unable to resulting in the front right side of the Freightliner striking the left side of the Altima.

    The driver and sole occupant of the Freightliner, a 64-year-old Milford man, was properly restrained and was not injured.

    The driver of the Nissan, an 80-year-old Alexandria, VA man, was properly restrained and was transported to an area hospital by helicopter in critical condition.

    Unfortunately, on Thursday, he passed away as a result of his injuries.

    A 77-year-old Alexandria, VA, woman was properly restrained in the front passenger seat. She was transported to an area hospital and admitted with serious injuries.

    The road was closed for about 3 and a half hours while the crash was investigated and later cleared.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/28/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/28/2022

    Top Stories: Seaford woman arrested after police say she stabbed another woman. Sussex County pair wanted for vehicle thefts. Selbyville man arrested on drug charges.

    Weather: critical fire weather remains a threat for the rest of this afternoon and a good chunk of this evening before the winds start calming down. Another chilly night in-store with an area of high pressure dominating our weather conditions. a warmer day is in store for Friday with a return of those winds. and a bigger warm-up on the way next week.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/27/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/27/2022

    Top Stories: Legislation introduced to treat bills equally regardless of the party in Delaware. Governor announces a $16 million dollar investment for vulnerable Delawareans. Millsboro man arrested on vehicle theft charges in Dagsboro.

    Weather: Sunny and breezy conditions will continue throughout the rest of the afternoon hours as an area of high pressure begins to settle in for the rest of this week. we are in store for a rather chilly night similar to what we would see during the winter months. more sunny skies for Thursday with more in the way of windy conditions before a nice warm-up on the way this weekend.

  • Hurricane Committee retires Ida, prepares for 2022 season

    Hurricane Committee retires Ida, prepares for 2022 season

    Geneva, 27 April 2022 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Hurricane Committee has retired Ida from the rotating lists of Atlantic tropical cyclone names because of the death and destruction caused by the category 4 hurricane in the United States of America in 2021.

    Imani will instead be used in the lists of names, which are overseen by WMO to help in the communication of storm warnings and to alert people about potentially life-threatening risks.  The names are repeated every six years, unless a storm is so deadly that its name is retired – as in the case of Ida. In total, 94 names have now been retired from the Atlantic basin list since 1953, when storms began to be named under the current system.

    The naming convention – whilst attracting the most public attention – is only a small part of the life-saving work of the Hurricane Committee, which focuses on operational priorities including the provision of forecasts and warnings for wind, storm surge and flooding hazards, as well as impact assessments.

    The Hurricane Committee consists of experts from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and serves North America, Central America and the Caribbean (WMO Regional Association IV). It reviewed the unusually active 2021 Atlantic season and fine-tuned preparations for 2022 at its annual session, held virtually from 25 to 28 April.

    The Atlantic hurricane season officially lasts from 1 June to 30 November. Named storms have formed prior to the official start of the hurricane season in about half of the past 10-15 years, including each of the past seven years (2015-2021). Pending the outcome of a technical study by the U.S. National Weather Service, the Hurricane Committee did not discuss any resolution to bring forward the official season date.

    2021 Tropical Cyclones

    2021 was the third most active year on record in terms of named storms, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It marked the sixth consecutive above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. For the second straight year, it exhausted the regular names from WMO’s rotating list (the first time this has ever happened).

    Ida was the most devastating storm of the season. It peaked as a category 4 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) that caused severe to catastrophic damage in southeastern Louisiana. Ida later became an extratropical low that caused heavy rain and deadly flooding in the northeastern United States. Ida is responsible for 55 direct fatalities and 32 indirect fatalities in the United States. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) estimated that Ida’s wind, rain, storm surge and tornadoes caused a total of $75 billion in damage in the United States.

    Another damaging storm was Elsa, which formed as was an early-season category 1 hurricane over the central tropical Atlantic. It was the first hurricane to directly impact Barbados since Hurricane Janet in 1955 and it also affected other Caribbean countries as well as the USA.

    In total, there were 21 named storms with winds of 64 km/h (39 mph) or greater, including seven hurricanes (winds of 118 km/h (74 mph) or greater) of which four were major hurricanes (hurricanes reaching category 3 and above according to the Saffir-Simpson Scale which is a 1 to 5 rating, with winds of 178 km/h (111) mph or greater).

    Climate factors, including La Niña, above-normal sea surface temperatures earlier in the season, and above-average West African Monsoon rainfall were the primary contributors for the above-average 2021 season. Another contributing factor is a phenomenon known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, which entered a warm phase in 1995 which favors more, stronger, and longer-lasting storms. 

    NOAA will issue its outlook for the 2022 season on 24 May.

    In 2021, the National Weather Service assembled a team to determine quantitative thresholds for adding or removing dates from the official Atlantic hurricane season, along with an examination of potential ramifications of moving the beginning of hurricane season to May 15.  While this team continues its work, no changes to the start of the Atlantic hurricane season will occur in 2022.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/26/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/26/2022

    Top Stories: Tiny home proposal to help homeless considered in Georgetown. Frankford man arrested on drug charges in Millsboro. Gas prices soar overnight, rising 20 cents in Delaware.

    Weather: We are patiently awaiting the arrival of a cold front to move through over the next several hours giving us the chance of some scattered rain showers and maybe an isolated thunderstorm. Cooler weather will filter in behind this front tonight and we will see an increase in those winds over the next day or two. A slow and steady warm-up is ahead towards this weekend with more rain chances on the way early next week.

  • Harrington man arrested on kidnapping charges

    Harrington man arrested on kidnapping charges

    Antonio Boyer, 23, of Harrington, DE – Harrington Police Dept.

    A Harrington man has been arrested on kidnapping charges.

    According to the Harrington Police Department, on Monday, officers were dispatched to a business in the 16000 block of S. DuPont Highway for reports of a domestic disturbance.

    Responding officers were advised by witnesses and also were able to observe on security cameras in the store that a male suspect entered the store and engaged in a verbal altercation with the victim, according to police.

    The victim then fled to the office of the business where the male suspect followed her, grabbed her by the arm, and began pulling her toward the exit. As the victim struggled to get away, police say the suspect picked her up and carried her from the store and threw her into a vehicle.

    The vehicle then fled the scene in an unknown direction.

    Through investigative measures, officers were able to identify Antonio Boyer, 23, of Harrington, as the suspect.

    Police responded to the last known address for Boyer and located the vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident and the victim was located in good condition.

    Boyer was charged with Kidnapping Second Degree (C Felony), Unlawful Imprisonment Second Degree (A Misdemeanor), Offensive Touching (Misdemeanor), Criminal Trespass Third Degree (Violation), and Disorderly Conduct (Misdemeanor). He was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institute in lieu of $7001 secured bond.

  • Delaware State Police Arrest Two Subjects on Weapons Charges

    Delaware State Police Arrest Two Subjects on Weapons Charges

    6-year-old Shawn Taylor of Houtzdale, PA and 25-year-old Naim Abdullah of Aston, PA.

    Delaware State Police have arrested two subjects for weapons and drug charges following a traffic stop that occurred on Sunday evening.

    On April 24th, 2022 at approximately 8:51 p.m., a trooper on patrol in the Wilmington, DE area observed a black Dodge Challenger traveling at a high rate of speed on southbound Interstate 495 in the area of Cauffiel Parkway. A traffic stop was initiated and the trooper made contact with the occupants, which included 26-year-old Shawn Taylor of Houtzdale, PA and 25-year-old Naim Abdullah of Aston, PA. Upon contacting the occupants, a strong odor of marijuana was detected emitting from the vehicle’s interior. A subsequent search of the Challenger led to the discovery of approximately 0.68 grams of marijuana and a loaded Springfield handgun. Computer checks of Taylor and Abdullah revealed that both subjects were convicted felons prohibited from possessing a firearm.

    Taylor and Abdullah were taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop 1, where they were both charged with the following crimes:

    • Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
    • Possession of a Firearm While Possessing a Controlled Substance (Felony)
    • Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony)
    • Possession of Marijuana

    Both Taylor and Abdullah were arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $30,001 cash bond.

  • Troopers Arrest Motorcyclist on Drug Charges

    Troopers Arrest Motorcyclist on Drug Charges

    26-year-old Devon McCray of Frankford, DE

    Delaware State Police have arrested 26-year-old Devon McCray of Frankford, DE on drug charges following a traffic stop on Sunday afternoon.

    On April 24th, 2022 at approximately 3:04 p.m., a trooper on patrol in the Millsboro, DE area observed a motorcycle stopped on the east side of Cannon Road just north of Devon Road. The motorcycle did not have a registration plate displayed, and the operator was observed standing on the roadside. The trooper attempted to contact the individual, but the operator attempted to flee the scene on the motorcycle and then on foot. A foot chase ensued and the operator, identified as Devon McCray, was taken into custody without incident. A search of McCray led to the discovery of approximately 1.743 grams of suspected heroin and approximately 12.22 grams of cocaine.

    McCray was transported to Troop 4 and charged with the following offenses:

    • Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
    • Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Numerous traffic charges

    McCray was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and released on $31,350 unsecured bond.

  • Troopers Arrest Subject for Theft of a Motor Vehicle

    Troopers Arrest Subject for Theft of a Motor Vehicle

    30-year-old Arkeem Adkins of Millsboro, DE

    Delaware State Police have arrested 30-year-old Arkeem Adkins of Millsboro, DE for theft of a motor vehicle and other charges following a traffic stop that occurred on Saturday afternoon.

    On April 23rd, 2022 at approximately 3:32 p.m., a trooper on patrol in the Dagsboro, DE area observed a black Mercedes C300 traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Iron Branch Road in the area of Bunting Road. The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle on Colonial Estates Avenue east of Iron Branch Road and made contact with the operator, identified as Arkeem Adkins. Upon contacting Adkins, a strong odor of marijuana was detected emitting from the vehicle’s interior. A subsequent search of the Mercedes led to the discovery of approximately 0.078 grams of marijuana. A computer inquiry of Adkins showed that he had a suspended driver’s license and an active warrant for his arrest. Computer checks also revealed that the Mercedes C300 had been reported as stolen by Delaware State Police Troop 4 on April 21st, 2022.

    Adkins was transported to Troop 4 and charged with the following offenses:

    • Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
    • Theft Under $1,500
    • Possession of Marijuana
    • Driving While Suspended / Revoked
    • Speeding

    Adkins was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $500 secured bond.

  • TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/25/2022

    TV Delmarva News At 4. 4/25/2022

    Top Stories: UPDATE: Dover woman’s missing husband located in Arizona. Farmers fight proposed. solar farm near Smyrna. Harrington man arrested on drug, weapons charges in Lewes

    Weather: Influences of a pesky stationary boundary will keep the clouds in the region tonight along with the shot of some patchy fog for our coastal locations. We will see a return of that sunshine tomorrow out ahead of a cold front that will be sparking some showers in the afternoon and evening hours. behind that front will bring in some below-average temperatures and some wind to finish out the week.