Month: March 2018

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-9957

Date/Time:   Thursday, March 29th, 2018 at 1:47AM

Location:   Walgreens, 1001 Forrest Avenue, Dover, DE

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department is investigating a robbery that occurred early Thursday morning at Walgreens at 1001 Forrest Avenue.  The incident occurred at approximately 1:47AM, when two unknown black male suspects entered the business and walked to the pharmacy.  The suspects jumped the counter and demanded that the pharmacist open the medication safe.  The suspects then fled with an undisclosed amount of medication.  There was also a third suspect acting as a lookout who remained outside the store.  

The suspects were described as followed:

Suspect 1: black male wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and black shoes

Suspect 2: black male wearing a red jacket with a black hooded sweatshirt underneath, blue jeans, and black shoes

Suspect 3: unknown race male wearing a black and white jacket

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on-line at http://www.tipsubmit.com.

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-9676

Date/Time:   Tuesday, March 27th, 2018 at 12:08AM

Location:   N. DuPont Highway and Lepore Drive, Dover, DE

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Narrative: 

A traffic violation led to firearms charges for Shakera Williams (33, Dover).  Williams was stopped at approximately 12:03AM on Tuesday, March 27th, in the area of Lepore Road and North DuPont Highway.  During the stop, officers could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle.  A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 3.3 grams of marijuana and a handgun.  Williams was arrested without incident and released on $6,200 unsecured bond on the following charges:
-Possession of a Firearm During Commission of Felony
-Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon
-Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
-Possession of Marijuana
-Drug Paraphernalia

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-9672

Date/Time:   Between March 24th, 2018 and March 26th, 2018

Location:   Roundtree Drive, Dover East Estates, Dover, DE

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department is investigating a residential burglary that occurred in the unit block of Roundtree Drive.  Officers responded to the home on Monday, March 26th, 2018 at 10:30PM after the resident discovered that her home was burglarized.  The resident advised officers that the home was vacant between 7:00PM on Saturday, March 24th and 10:30PM on Monday, March 26th.  During that time, an unknown suspect forced entry through a rear door and stole two televisions and a PlayStation game console.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on-line at http://www.tipsubmit.com.

The Dover Police Department is pleased to announce that it has obtained re-accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA®). following a November 2017 inspection.  The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Programs is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence. The body of standards were developed using source materials voluntarily submitted by pre-existing state programs and by many state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide. Those standards were based on case-law, state statutes, administrative mandates, model policies and professional management materials. There are a total of 484 standards. 

Benefits of Accreditation

-Improves officer and public safety
-Addresses high risk management Issues
-Promotes operational efficiency through policy development
-Provides a norm for the agency to judge its performance
-Provides a basis to correct deficiencies before they become public problems
-Requires agencies to commit policies and procedures to writing
-Promotes accountability
-Verifies compliance
-Provides a means of independent evaluation of agency operations
-Minimizes an agency’s exposure to liability
-Potentially reduces liability insurance costs
-Enhances the reputation of the agency, thereby attracting the best qualified candidates for employment
-Increases public confidence

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-9322

Date/Time:   Friday, March 23rd, 2018 at 10:37PM

Location:   White Oak Road and Acorn Lane, Dover, DE (Traffic Stop)

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department arrested Lewis Foreman (23) on drug charges when they attempted to stop him for a traffic violation.  Officers attempted to stop Foreman on Friday, March 23rd, 2018 at 10:37PM in the area of White Oak Road and Acorn Lane for a traffic violation.  At that time, Foreman fled on foot from the vehicle.  Officers pursued Foreman and took him into custody without further incident.  Foreman was found in possession of 25.2 grams of marijuana and $1,605 in suspected drug proceeds.  Foreman was committed to JTVCC in default of $21,050 bond on the following charges:
-Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana
-Resisting Arrest
-Local Fugitive (Wanted 5 times by DE courts)

Throughout the entire month of April, the Dover Police Department will crack down on distracted driving and seat belt violations in the City of Dover.

Since January of 2011, it has been illegal to use cellphones while driving unless a hands-free device is being used.  Despite numerous campaigns, advertisements, and enforcement efforts; the department is still seeing drivers on their phones talking or texting while driving on our roadways, as well as several accidents attributed to distracted driving.  This not only creates a dangerous situation for the driver and their passengers, but every person around them on our roadways.

Chief Mailey has tasked the officers of the Dover Police Department to focus their traffic enforcement efforts on Distracted Driving and Seat belt Violations throughout the month of April, which will also coincide with multi-agency 2018 Drive to Save Lives initiative from April 20-21, 2018 and National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

In regards to the increased focus on Distracted Driving and Seat Belt violations, Chief Mailey stated:  “The goal of this initiative is to educate drivers about Delaware’s laws regarding distracted driving and seat belt usage and correct the behavior of violators who put themselves and others at risk on our roadways.  While a recent Delaware Office of Highway Safety study states that current seat belt usage rate is 92% (compared to the National seat belt rate of 86%), we are still obligated to ensure that drivers and passengers are properly secured and obeying our laws for their own safety.  Distracted driving, specifically the use of cell phones while driving, continues to be a major factor in crashes in city, following the trend of state and national data as well.  While our total amount of vehicle crashes (1,817) was a 5-year low for the City of Dover, I firmly believe that we can continue to drive that number down through distracted driving enforcement efforts and make our streets safer to travel.”

DELAWARE DISTRACTED DRIVING (CELL PHONE LAW)

Title 21, Section 701(a)(4):
(4) For violations of § 4176C(a) of this title relating to electronic communication devices, when the violation is determined by personal observation by another law-enforcement officer who communicates the information to the arresting officer by radio or other telecommunications device, provided that the arresting officer is working in conjunction with the observing officer, the arresting officer is immediately advised of the violation and the vehicle being apprehended is the vehicle detected

Facts and Statistics

• The number of people killed nationwide in distraction-affected crashes in 2016 was 3,450. An estimated 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2015 as well.
• 10% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
• Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes. (NHTSA)
• Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times. (VTTI)
• Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. (2009, VTTI)
• A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended, multi-message text conversations while driving. (UMTRI)

DELAWARE SEAT BELT LAW

• Everyone in the vehicle, including backseat passengers and children, must wear seat belts properly.
• Lap and shoulder belts must be worn and shoulder belts must not be placed behind the back or under the arm.
• The driver will receive an $83.50 fine (plus court costs) for the failure of anyone in the vehicle to buckle up.

Facts and Statistics (Office of Highway Safety, Delaware)

• 44% percent of all occupant fatalities in 2016 were unrestrained.
• January through June are the months with the most unrestrained crashes
• 39% of unrestrained crashes happen between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Wearing a seat belt increases your chance of surviving a crash by almost 50%, while reducing the severity of injury.
• 77% of people involved in unrestrained crashes are males.
• You are four times more likely to be killed in a crash if you are ejected from a vehicle because you are not buckled up.
• Hospital data shows that unbelted occupants in crashes are 3 times more likely to require a hospital stay. On average, hospital costs for an unbelted crash victim are 55% higher than those for a belted crash victim.
• Strong seat belt laws protect families. When parents are buckled up, 90% of the time their children are too.

LATEST WINTER STORM UPDATE (3-20-2018 at 9:30AM):

The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, New Jersey has issued a Winter Weather Warning beginning Wednesday morning and lasting throughout the day.  There is a potential of 6″-8″ of snowfall during that period for our area.  Please take this time to review Winter Storm information from the Dover Police Department.

CITY OF DOVER CITIZENS:

• The City of Dover Police Department will continue normal patrol operations throughout the duration of the storm and has a fleet of 4×4 vehicles prepared to continue to serve the City of Dover.

• The following streets must be cleared of parked vehicles within 1 hour of the first snowfall: Division Street, Water Street, Governors Avenue, and State Street. Vehicles not moved are subject to ticketing and towing at the owners expense by the City of Dover Police Department.

• City of Dover residents must clear their sidewalks of snow within 24 hours after final snowfall. This code is strictly enforced by City of Dover Inspections/Code Enforcement.

• The City is requesting that residents NOT leave trash cans and other items on the curb/sidewalks to allow room for the plows to clear the roadways without obstacles.
  If possible, do not park on any roadsides to allow plows the ability to properly clear roadways.

TRAVEL:

The City of Dover Police Department strongly urges motorists to avoid any unnecessary travel once the snow begins to fall. Driving only puts you and public safety workers at risk. This also allows the plow drivers plenty of room on our roadways to properly clear the roads of accumulating snow. If you must travel, please follow the following recommendations:

PREPARATION TIPS:

• Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day
• Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Sand, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter to make walkways and steps less slippery
• Warm coats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots and extra blankets and warm clothing for all household members
• Ample alternate heating methods such as fireplaces or wood or coal-burning stoves
• Routinely check on elderly family and neighbors
• Bring ALL Pets INDOORS
• Turn faucets on a low drip to prevent freezing of household pipes
• If pipes are frozen, DO NOT use a blow torch or other flame source to thaw them!!!

CODE PURPLE SHELTER INFORMATION:

Those who are seeking shelter should dial 211. An Intake Housing Specialist will be available to assist between the hours of M-F; 8-5. After hours calls to 211 will be directed to shelters with openings. 

PETS:

***A Message from the Dover Police Animal Control Unit***
With temperatures below freezing, please remember to bring your pets inside in the cold weather, snow, and ice. Animal Cruelty is a crime in Delaware. If it is too cold outside for you, it’s probably too cold outside for your pets. If you must leave your pets outside, it is required they have adequate shelter, consisting of three sides and a roof, and fresh (unfrozen) water at all times. Wood chips are an excellent idea for bedding and allow for adequate drainage/drying. Blankets/towels will absorb moisture and can worsen the situation for the animal. A plastic covering or an unused thick door mat covering the doghouse entrance works excellent to keep the wind out if you need a makeshift door. Dover Police Animal Control will be conducting checks on animals in the City of Dover to ensure adequate shelter or water laws are followed and seizing animals if violations are found. Animal Cruelty in the City of Dover fines can range up to $100.00 per dog with stiffer penalties for violations of state laws. Please report any animal cruelty to the Dover Police Department 302-736-7111.