Day: October 23, 2014

Incident #: 50-14-28627  Date/Time:  October 22, 2014 at 11:23PM

Location: Kings Highway and Division Street

Narrative:

A Dover man was arrested Wednesday night on drugs and weapon charges after fleeing from police in a vehicle.  Officers from the Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Kings Highway and Division Street, operated by Anthony Benson (34) after learning that he had an active capias for his arrest.  Benson then fled from the officers, leading them on a short vehicle pursuit that ended in the rear alley of Upland Avenue.  Benson then attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended.  Officers discovered a .38 caliber revolver (loaded) and 3.6 grams of crack cocaine in the vehicle.  Benson is being held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $42,510 secured bond on the following charges:

Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
Possession of Firearm Curing Commission of Felony
Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited
Possession With Intent to Deliver Cocaine
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Reckless Endangering
Resisting Arrest
15 various traffic charged related to the pursuit

Information Released by Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

With the upcoming Halloween events around the City of Dover, the Dover Police Department would like to remind parents, children, and motorists to remain alert and keep safety a top priority during this Halloween season.  While we will have extra officers on the streets and in our neighborhoods on Halloween Night, it is important to take note of the safety tips we have provided below.

Trick or Treat Date/Times:

• Friday, October 31st 6:00PM-8:00PM

Motorist Safety Tips:

• Motorists are asked to drive with an abundance of caution and travel at a reduced speed in residential areas.
• Many children and adults will be walking through residential areas and depending on the availability of sidewalks, may be near or on the roadway.
• Be aware of children inadvertently darting across the street in the path of vehicles.

Trick or Treating Safety Tips:

• Children should NEVER go Trick or Treating alone.  They should be with a parent/guardian, or a group of friends at all times.
• Stay off of main roadways.
• Costumes should fit properly, with no loose/hanging items.
• Consider face paint instead of masks as they can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Trick or Treaters should carry a flashlight at all times.
• Utilize glow sticks and/or reflective tape/material attached to costumes and bags for added visibility.
• Before crossing the street, always look in both directions twice to make sure no vehicles are coming.
• Inspect all candy to ensure it is not tampered with, prior to consuming it.

Sex Offender Ordinance for Halloween Festivities:

The Dover Police Department Sex Offender Enforcement Unit would like to remind all offenders living within the City of Dover of the new ordinance that was passed this year in regards to Halloween/Holiday festivities.  The Dover Police Department will have extra officers on duty to ensure that offenders comply with the new ordinance, and be on the lookout for suspicious/unsafe activity. If there are any questions or concerns, or you would like to report a non-compliant offender, please notify the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111.

70-7  Registered Sex Offenders

e)  Prohibited activities for sexual offenders.

(1)  It is unlawful for any sexual offender to participate in a holiday event or practice involving children under 18 years of age, such as distributing candy or other items to children on Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, or any other holiday or event. Participation is to be defined as attendance at, or taking part of, or cooperation with an event.

(2)  It is unlawful for any sexual offender to wear costumes for the primary purpose of entertaining, attracting, or encouraging interaction with children.

(3)Any person designated a sexual offender shall be required on October thirty-first of each year or any other day upon which Halloween is celebrated to:

a.  Avoid all Halloween related contact with children;

b.  Post a sign at his/her residence stating, “No candy or treats at this residence.” Such signs shall be in letters at least two inches high and shall be legible from the street or road adjacent to the residence;

c.  Except for lighting provided on a year round basis by a sexual offender or the owner or manager of a multi-family residential unit for the purpose of security or walkway or hallway illumination, all outside residential lighting shall be off during the evening hours after 5:00 p.m., and no exterior holiday decorations shall be exhibited on the sexual offender’s residence or on the property upon which the residence is located.

(4)  Holiday events or practices in which the sexual offender is the parent or guardian of the child or children involved, and where no non-familial children are present, are exempt from this section.

Despite all of the monsters and creatures roaming the city’s neighborhoods while Trick-or-Treating, they’re far from the scariest people on the roads during Halloween.  Drunk drivers put themselves and others at risk of injury, death, and arrest after getting behind the wheel after drinking too much.  Halloween events and parties throughout the area only add to the problem of drunk driving.  In 2013, there were 34 DUI arrests made in Kent County between October 25th and November 3rd.  The Dover Police Department will be deploying extra officers on Halloween night and throughout the weekend, as well as asking patrol officers to enhance DUI enforcement efforts during this time in order to help keep our roadways safe.  The following statistics and tips were provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety    Administration (NHTSA):

• In 2012, almost half (48%) of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 to 5:59 a.m. November 1) involved a drunk driver. In 2012 alone, 26 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night.
• These numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that drunk driving is more prevalent on Halloween compared with the rest of the year.
• Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving, and drunk driving is illegal. The legal and financial costs of driving while impaired can be significant. Drunk drivers often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to time off from work.
• What’s worse is that the consequences of drinking and driving could be taking someone else’s life or your own. Every year in America, thousands of people are killed by the selfish, preventable decision to drive drunk. In 2012, there were 10,322 people killed in drunk-driving crashes—a third of all crash fatalities.
• The minimum legal drinking age is 21 years. Young people (ages 21-34) make up the largest group of drunk drivers in fatal crashes. Even more shocking: in 2012, almost a fifth (18%) of the drivers under age 21 in fatal crashes were drunk, which is illegal in every State.
• Imagine the devastating consequences of drunk driving and the possibility of taking someone’s life. It doesn’t have to be a reality. Designate a sober driver. Before the Halloween parties begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
• Always designate a sober driver, even if you only plan to “have a few.” Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
• If you are drunk, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement. It is your business—you could save a life.
• If you’re at a Halloween party and see someone who is about to drive or ride drunk, take their keys and help them find a safe ride to where they are going. If the person says they’re not drunk, just remind them that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.