Month: November 2014

The Dover Police Department will be increasing patrols targeting Driving Under the Influence Violations throughout the Holiday season.  During the holiday season (Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Day), 2-3 times more people die in alcohol related crashes than any other time of the year.  40% of traffic fatalities during the holiday season involve a driver who is impaired by alcohol.  Drunk driving crashes are most prevalent during the holidays, as more people are on the road after having attended a holiday party where liquor is served.  As a result of a partnership with the Office of Highway Safety, the Dover Police Department will have an additional 38 officers working throughout the holiday season, directly targeting drivers that are under the influence.  These patrols will take place during 19 separate days and times determined to be prime times for drunk drivers to be on the road.   We recommend the following tips to ensure your holiday season and events keep everyone safe:

Be Responsible

Basically this boils down to everything from planning the party menu to assessing how guests will get home safely once the party is over.

What Every Host Needs to Know
• Don’t rely on coffee to sober up your guests. Only time can make someone sober.
• Beer and wine are just as intoxicating as hard liquor. A 12-ounce can of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce wine cooler and an ounce and a half of liquor contain the same amount of alcohol.
• Don’t rely on someone’s physical appearance to determine if they’ve had too much to drink.
• Mixers won’t help dilute alcohol. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed into a person’s system more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more.

Planning Your Party

• As guests RSVP, confirm that at least one person in each group is prepared to be the non-drinking designated driver.
• Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach.
• Avoid too many salty snacks, which tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages or mock-tails for designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol. And as the evening progresses, decrease the amount of alcohol poured in drinks and replace with mixers.
• If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base, like fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base.
• Be prepared by having the number of a taxi service on hand for those who need a ride. Also, be ready with some clean linens so you can turn your sofa into a hotel for guests who need to sleep it off.

During Your Party

• Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age, and never ask children to serve alcohol at parties.
• Don’t let guests mix their own drinks. Choosing a reliable “bartender” will help you keep track of the size and number of drinks that guests consume.
• If a guest appears to be drinking a bit much, offer to freshen his or her drink with a virgin version.
• Do not push drinks! Drinking at a party is not mandatory for having a good time.
• Have fun – but not too much fun. To be a good host, you should stay within your limits in order to make sure your guests stay within theirs.
• Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends.  Remember, only time sobers someone who has been drinking.
• If, despite your efforts, some of your guests have had too much to drink, drive them home, arrange for a ride with another guest who is sober, call a taxi, get a hotel, or invite them to stay over.

The Holiday Season is officially here.  That means more traffic on the roads, increased foot traffic in stores and shopping centers, and an increased potential of traffic accidents and criminal activity occurring.  The Dover Police Department will have increased patrols in all shopping centers, including undercover officers, to help prevent criminal activity from occurring.  The department will also focus on Driving Under the Influence (DUI), speeding, and aggressive driving violations during the holiday season to help ensure the public is safe on our roadways.  The Dover Police Department recommends the following safety tips to help keep you and your family safe this season:

Traditional Shopping:

• Observe the posted speed limits and other traffic laws when traveling.  Buying a gift is not worth a life.
• Enter stores in an orderly fashion during holiday sales to prevent injuries or even death from falls and people being trampled upon.
• Do not leave purchased items visible in your vehicle.  Place them in the trunk or cover them with a blanket or other object.
• When shopping during evening hours, park in a well-lit and heavily traveled area.  Consider shopping with a companion.
• Carry a minimal amount of cash on your person, and carry it in your front pocket if possible.
• Pay for purchases with a check or credit/debit card if possible.
• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused.  Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason.  At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
• Stay alert to your surroundings.  If you see any suspicious activity, notify the police or security immediately.
• Do not leave your purse/wallet unattended for any amount of time.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages.
• Be extra cautious when using ATM’s.  Use machines located in highly populated areas and be aware of your surroundings.
• Try not to use or look at your phone when walking through a parking lot.  There has been an increase in cell phone related robberies across the country.

Online Shopping:

• Look for the https:// – the “s” stands for secure… Also look for a lock or similar icon to indicate you are on a safe site.
• Use anti-virus software and tools on all computers to detect and remove viruses and key-loggers that can steal customers’ identities when using their bank or credit cards online.
• Use anti-phishing software – most reputable anti-virus programs contain anti-phishing software and alerts that help detect phishing scams.
• Secure your wireless network with a password to make sure others cannot access your personal information without your knowledge and permission.
• Choose a password by combining different numbers, letters and symbols. Remember, the longer the password the better. be sure to log off of a web site after completing an online transaction.
• Take action immediately if you suspect identity theft. Contact your credit card company, your bank, all three credit reporting agencies and the police.
  

Released by: Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Detective Chris Peer was the recipient of the Crowe-McGrory Award from the Delaware Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) during a luncheon on Thursday, November 20th.  The award was given in recognition of Peer’s performance and dedicated commitment to law enforcement and to the citizens of the City of Dover and State of Delaware.  According to the ASIS International website,  the organization is the preeminent organization for security professionals, with more than 38,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as specific security topics. ASIS also advocates the role and value of the security management profession to business, the media, government entities, and the public.  The Delaware Chapter of ASIS International was founded in 1974. The Chapter membership is comprised of many security professionals within the Delaware region representing private, public, educational and law enforcement institutions. The Chapter recognizes Delaware’s law enforcement and private security professionals through our annual Law Enforcement Luncheon and Awards Ceremony and the Oxley Awards Dinner.

Summary:
The Dover Police Department responded to 13 shoplifting calls between Noon on November 13th and Noon on November 20th.  Of those 13 shoplifting complaints, 9 are still under investigation, and 5 arrests were made in 3 cases. A total of 5 adults were arrested.

Update:  Erick Wyatte was taken into custody by the Dover Police Department, after receiving an anonymous tip through the department Facebook page.  Police learned that Wyatte was in an apartment in the 700 Block of Bacon Avenue just before 8:00PM.  Members of the Dover Police Patrol Unit, Street Crimes Unit, and the Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit (DVOC) responded to the area and attempted to contact Wyatte at the residence, but the resident (Latoya Clark, 27), refused to allow officers to check the home.  Officer’s left the residence, but stayed in the area as DVOC officers monitored the home.  DVOC officer’s later observed a black male exit the residence and flee eastbound on foot.  The suspect was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a black backpack, and a dread-lock wig to conceal his identity.  Officer’s from the Street Crimes Unit and Patrol unit immediately set up a perimeter in a small patch of woods where it was believed Wyatte was hiding.  A K9 unit from the Capitol Police Department responded to assist in the search.  The K9 tracked along a hedgerow and located the dread-lock wig at the rear of a residence in the 800 block of Bacon Avenue, where Street Crimes Unit officers observed a subject peering out of a second floor window of the home.  Officer’s contacted the home owner and located Erick Wyatte inside the residence, where he was taken into custody without incident at 9:08PM.  Latoya Clark was also arrested and charged with Hindering Prosecution.  Wyatte was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $271,000 Secured Bond.  Please see original narrative and photo of Wyatte below.

The Dover Police Department is thankful for the assistance provided by the Capitol Police K9 Unit and the tip received by an anonymous citizen.

Incident #: 50-14-30975   Date: November 15, 2014, 10:48PM

Location:  700 Block of Bacon Avenue, Dover

Narrative:
The Dover Police Department is seeking a 27-year-old Dover man in connection with a home invasion on Saturday, November 15th.  According to the male (29) and female (38) victims, Erick Wyatte kicked the exterior door open and entered their apartment.  Awaken by their dog, the victims walked into their living room, where they observed Wyatte standing at the top of the steps with a black handgun.  Wyatte demanded money, but fled after being approached by the male victim.  A short time later, a responding officer observed Wyatte near the victim residence.  Wyatte fled from the officer, and was unable to be taken into custody.  However, Wyatte dropped his wallet while running.  Inside of the wallet was his Delaware State Identification Card as well, further verifying his identity.

Officer releasing this information:
Cpl. Mark Hoffman
Public Information Officer