Incident #: 50-14-21286 Date/Time: Thursday, August 14th, 2014
Location: 600 Block of Forest Street, Dover, DE
Narrative: Richard Hicks Jr. (52) is currently wanted by the Dover police Department for Failure to re-register as a sex offender, a class G felony. Hicks Jr. was residing at the Dover Interfaith Men’s Shelter and moved out three days ago. Hicks Jr. has failed to re-register within those 3 days as mandated by law. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111 or call the Delaware Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-Tip-3333 or go online at www.tipsubmit.com.
Richard Hicks Jr. Age: 52
Officer Releasing Information: Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Incident #: 50-14-14912 Date/Time: May 7-June 10, 2014
Narrative:
Police are seeking a woman involved in the theft of cash and unlawful use of credit cards belonging to her 85-year-old grandmother. Jennifer Bell (42) took her grandmothers ATM card and over the course of several days, withdrew $1,800.00 in cash from Dover area ATM’s without the victims consent. Once the victim noticed the withdraws, she notified Dover Police. Bell allegedly confessed the theft to her grandmother as well. During the investigation it was also discovered that Bell and her boyfriend, Bradley Zahner, made numerous purchases from the Dover lowe’s using the victims Lowe’s Visa card to purchase over $1,300.00 in merchandise. The victim had given Zahner her Lowe’s card to make purchases for a landscaping job she asked him to complete. However, Zahner and Bell used the card for unauthorized purchases.
Zahner has since turned himself in to the Dover Police Department and accepted a plea deal on the case. However, Jennifer Bell has refused to turn herself in to the department after numerous attempts. It is believed that bell may be staying near the Marydel area. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111 or call the Delaware Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-Tip-3333 or go online at www.tipsubmit.com.
Jennifer Bell Age: 42 Pending Charges: Theft Over $1500 (Vic>62) Unlawful use of Credit Card Vic>62 (2x) Conspiracy 2nd Degree Theft by False Pretense Under $1500.00
Officer Releasing Information: Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Summer is quickly coming to an end and families across Dover are preparing to send their children back to school in the coming weeks. The Capital School District begins school on Thursday, August 21st and Caesar Rodney begins Monday, August 25th. The Dover Police Department is offering the following information to better prepare the citizens we serve for Back to School week.
Police in Schools: The Dover Police Department has a full time officer dedicated to the Dover High School, Central Middle School, and Parkway Academy. These officers are otherwise known as SRO’s or School Resource Officers. We encourage parents to tell their children to communicate concerns with those officers as needed. The department also has a G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education And Training) Instructor at the William Henry Middle School that will also visit elementary schools on occasion as well. In addition to our four full-time youth officers, the department will increase their presence at schools across the city during the first days of school to ensure a smooth and safe process for all children and school faculty. There will also be increased presence by the Special Enforcement Unit Motorcycle Division in area school zones, cross walks, and bus routes to crack down on vehicle violations. People who speed in school zones, disobey crossing guards, or pass school buses will be cited accordingly.
New Traffic Signal at Dover High School The new Dover High School will welcome students into it’s halls for the 1st time this school year. However, the school is not the only thing that is new on Dover’s west side. The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDot) has installed the new High-Intensity Activated CrossWalK system at the Dover High School main entrance/exit. This system is designed to maximize the flow of traffic in what is expected to be a congested area before and after school. A video showing how the light works can be viewed below.
Tips for Motorists The Dover Police Department will utilize special enforcement units to increase presence in school zones and on bus routes throughout the city to target speed violations, passing of school buses, and other driving violations that threaten the safety of school children. The beginning of school is also a time when children are at increased risk of transportation related injuries from pedestrian, bicycle, school bus, and motor vehicle crashes because there are many more children on the road each morning and afternoon and many drivers’ patterns change. Shorter daylight hours make it especially difficult to see young pedestrians and bicyclists. So as schools open their doors, it’s time for everyone – motorists, parents, educators, and students – to improve their traffic safety practices. The following tips can help make this a safe and happy school year for the whole community.
School Bus Safety:
It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus while its lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended.
On undivided roadways, with no physical barrier or median, vehicles must stop on both sides of the roadway.
Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and children are getting on or off. Motorists approaching from either direction must wait until the red lights stop flashing before proceeding.
Learn and obey the “alternately flashing warning light” system that school bus drivers use to alert motorists.
School Zone/Bus Stop Safety:
When a school bus or children are present slow down and proceed with caution, obeying all traffic laws and speed limits.
Obey School Zone speed limits & watch for flashing yellow lights, crossing guards, etc.
Be alert and ready to stop. Watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops. Watch for children arriving late for the bus, who may dart into the street without looking for traffic. When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch for children walking or biking to school.
When driving in neighborhoods or school zones, watch for young people who may be in a hurry to get to school and may not be thinking about getting there safely.
Walk/Bike to School:
Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.
Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic.
Use appropriate hand signals.
Respect traffic lights and stop signs.
Wear bright-colored clothing to increase visibility. White or light-colored clothing and reflective gear is especially important after dark.
Know the “rules of the road.”
Make sure your child’s walk to school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.
Identify other children in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school. In neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider organizing a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.
Be realistic about your child’s pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision.
If your children are young or are walking to a new school, walk with them the first week or until you are sure they know the route and can do it safely.
Bright-colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers.
Bullying:
Bullying or cyberbullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, over the Internet, or through mobile devices like cell phones. The Dover Police Department has full-time officers dedicated to the Central Middle School, Dover High School, and Parkway Academy with another officer that spends time in William Henry Middle School and the various elementary schools throughout the city.
When Your Child Is Bullied
Help your child learn how to respond by teaching your child how to: 1. Look the bully in the eye. 2. Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation. 3. Walk away.
Teach your child how to say in a firm voice. 1. “I don’t like what you are doing.” 2. “Please do NOT talk to me like that.” 3. “Why would you say that?”
Teach your child when and how to ask a trusted adult for help.
Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
Support activities that interest your child.
Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child’s safety and well-being when you cannot be there.
Monitor your child’s social media or texting interactions so you can identify problems before they get out of hand.
When Your Child Is the Bully
Be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK.
Set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior.
Be a positive role mode. Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges.
Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, counselors, and parents of the children your child has bullied.
When Your Child Is a Bystander
Tell your child not to cheer on or even quietly watch bullying.
Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying.
Help your child support other children who may be bullied. Encourage your child to include these children in activities.
Encourage your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop.
Teen Driving:
Keep Your Cell Phone Off Multiple studies indicate using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of driving drunk―that’s even when using a hands-free phone. Besides, your state may prohibit the use of cell phones while driving. Many do for drivers of certain ages.
Don’t Text Research shows texting―on average―causes a loss of focus on the road for five seconds. A lot can go wrong in those five seconds. Don’t try the “texting-while-stopped” approach, either. And, when you have your head down, you won’t notice key developments that may occur, even when you’re stuck at a red light.
Turn on Your Headlights Doing so can increase your visibility and help other drivers see you, even on sunny days.
Obey the Speed Limit Speeding causes about 40% of all fatal teen accidents. That’s especially true when driving on roads with lots of traffic or you’re not familiar with. Don’t feel pressured to keep up with traffic if it seems like everyone else is flying by you. Driving a safe speed helps ensure your well-being, and keeps you away from costly traffic tickets that can cause a sharp hike in your car insurance.
Minimize Distractions It may be tempting to eat, drink, flip around the radio dial, or play music loudly while you’re cruising around town; however, all can cause your mind or vision to wander, even for a few seconds. And, that can be enough for an inexperienced driver to lose control of your car, or not notice an obstacle in the road.
Drive Solo Having a single teen passenger in your car can double the risk of causing a car accident. Adding additional teen passengers causes the risk to escalate.
Practice Defensive Driving Always be aware of the traffic ahead, behind, and next to you, and have possible escape routes in mind. Stay a safe distance behind the car in front of you in slower speeds, and maintain a larger buffer zone with faster speeds. A good way to judge a proper distance is to count 2 seconds from the time the front of your car passes where the rear of the car in front of you passed.
Incident #: 50-14-21048 Date/Time: Monday, August 11th, 2014 at 5:32PM
Location: 1200 Block of Harrison Drive, Dover, DE
Narrative: A Dover man was arrested on Monday afternoon after stealing a woman’s belongings, including a handgun, while helping her move. Michael Quinones (26) of Dover and another man were hired by a female victim to aid her in moving from her residence on Harrison Drive. During the move, the victim took the workers on a guided tour through the home, including the bedroom where a handgun was kept. The victim noticed a short time later that the handgun was missing from the bedroom and notified Dover Police. Shortly after police arrived, Quinones was taken into custody as the result of questioning by an officer. Initially Quinones lied about his name to the officer because he had a capias for his arrest for a driving infraction. Quinones was identified after the officer found his wallet with Delaware ID. It is believed that the handgun was sold by Quinones to an unknown person in the area. Further investigation, revealed that Quinones had $14.00 in rolled change and $2600.00 worth of various jewelry hiding in his backpack he brought with him to the victim’s residence. Quinones was transported back to the Dover Police Department for further questioning about the incident, with a primary focus on the location of the handgun. During questioning, Quinones quickly grabbed a cell phone off of a counter top and snapped it in half, stating that “There is stuff on there that proves I’m guilty.” Quinones was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $13,600 Cash Bond.
Michael Quinones Age: 26Charges: Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited Theft of a Firearm Theft over $1500 (Victim >62) Tampering with Evidence Criminal Impersonation Selling Stolen Property
Update: Robert Sanders was arrested just before 9:00AM on Tuesday morning after a citizen who learned about the case from the Dover Police Department’s Facebook page, observed the vehicle turning onto Walker Road and into The Heritage nursing home center. The citizen observed Sanders park the stolen Mercury Milan behind the nursing home and exit the vehicle, at which point they called the Dover Police Department. Within one minute, police were on scene and took Sanders into custody without incident. Bond information was not available at the time of this release.
Incident #: 50-14-20987 Date/Time: Monday, August 11th, 2014 at 4:00AM
Location: Tudor Industrial Park, S. Little Creek Road, Dover, DE
Narrative: The Dover Police Department is investigating an early morning carjacking that occurred on S. Little Creek Road at the Tudor Industrial Park. The victim, a 22 year old male, was supposed to meet a female acquaintance in the Manchester Square development, located off of White Oak Road at 4:00AM. A male subject, later identified as Robert Sanders, approached the victim and the two agreed on giving Sanders a ride to the Tudor Industrial Park. Once there, Sanders displayed a black handgun and ordered the victim from his vehicle. The victim exited the vehicle and fled the area, notifying the police department a short time later. Sanders was last seen operating the stolen vehicle, a 2007 Mercury Milan (gold), westbound on S. Little Creek Road, towards US Rt 113. The vehicle has an unknown New Jersey registration.
Warrants have been obtained for Robert Sanders for the following charges: Carjacking 1st Degree, Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon. Sanders is also wanted on four counts of 4th Degree Rape by the Dover Police Department on an unrelated incident that involved a 15-year-old female victim. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111 or call the Delaware Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-Tip-3333 or go online at www.tipsubmit.com.
Officer Releasing Information: Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
2007 Mercury Milan This image is not the stolen vehicle, but an example of what it may look like.Robert Sanders (2012)Robert Sanders (2012)
Update: 20-year-old Rashaad Lewis, the victim in the July 23rd stabbing incident (details below), was declared deceased just after 5:00PM on Monday, August 11th. Lewis had been admitted at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital since the incident due to the injuries he sustained in the stabbing. The defendants in this case (Shaquille Bolden & Kinon Teat) will now face charges of 1st Degree Murder in addition to the charges they have already been arraigned on. Both are currently held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $1,000,000 cash bond. Details of this case can be found below.
Lewis’ death is the 1st homicide in the City of Dover in 2014, and the first since February 1, 2013 when 18-year-old Imeer Waddell was shot outside of Whatcoat Apartments. An arrest was also made in that case leading to a conviction in March of 2014. Details of that case can be found here: http://wp.me/p407do-Em
Officer Releasing Information: Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Incident #: 50-14-19128 Date/Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 3:42PM
Location: Unit Block of South New Street, Dover, DE
1st Update: On Thursday, July 24th, Shaquille Bolden and Kinon Teat facing increased pressure by Dover Police Detectives, turned themselves in at Delaware State Police Troop 3 just after 8:00PM. Bolden and Teat were transported back to the Dover Police Department for further questioning and were arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7. Both are being held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $1,000,000 Cash bond each.
Narrative: Two men are being sought for attempted murder, along with several other charges after large fight occurred in the unit block of South New Street. Police responded to the area at approximately 3:42PM after receiving a call that a large fight with approximately 20 people was occurring. Upon arrival, officers were directed towards a 20-year-old victim that sustained numerous knife wounds to his chest. The victim was rushed to Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for immediate life-saving surgery. The victim is now listed in critical but stable condition. Investigative efforts by Dover Police Officers led to the identification of Shaquille Bolden (19) and Kinon Teat (18) as the assailants in the knife attack. Dover Police have obtained warrants for the suspects and are currently wanted on the below listed charges. The reason for the large fight is unknown at this time. Anyone with any information is asked to call 302-736-7111. 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 www.tipsubmit.com.
Shaquille Bolden Age: 19 Last Known Address: 400 North DuPont Highway, Dover (Lake Club Apts)
Charges: Murder 1st Degree Possession of Deadly Weapon by Person Prohibited Conspiracy 1st Degree Possession of Deadly Weapon During Commission of Felony
Kinon Teat Age: 18 Last Known Address: 295 S. Ember Drive, Felton, DE
Charges: Murder 1st Degree Possession of Deadly Weapon by Person Prohibited Conspiracy 1st Degree Possession of Deadly Weapon During Commission of Felony
The following images contain the newest Megan’s Law Sex Offender Notifications for the City of Dover. If there any questions or concerns, please contact the Dover Police Sex Offender Enforcement Unit.
Incident #: 50-14-20932 Date/Time: Sunday, 8-10-14 between Midnight-4:00AM
Location: Pine Valley Road (Maple Dale), Dover, DE
Officer Releasing Information: Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Narrative: The Dover Police Department is investigating a burglary that occurred early Sunday morning in the Maple Dale community. Between Midnight and 4:00AM, an unknown suspect entered the rear of a residence through an unlocked sliding glass door. Once inside, the suspect stole a HP laptop Computer and a wallet. The suspect then fled in unknown direction from the scene. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111 or call the Delaware Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-Tip-3333 or go online at www.tipsubmit.com.
