Robbery Suspect/Dover Career Criminal Sentenced to 44 Years 4-10-2018
The Dover Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division – Wilmington Field Office are pleased to announce the successful prosecution of Pierre Downs of Dover, DE in reference to a 2016 robbery. The Dover Police Department arrested Pierre Downs for charges relating to a September 23rd robbery on Friday, October 7th. Officers executed a search warrant at Downs home in the 100 Block of N. Queen Street which led to the arrest of Downs.
Officers originally contacted the victim of the robbery at a nearby hospital when an assault victim arrived for medical treatment. The victim advised that he was threatened by a group of suspects in the 100 Block of West Loockerman Street and was then struck multiple times by unknown suspects. The victim, who was beaten unconscious, stated that the suspects also removed his wallet, cash, cellphone, and a firearm from his vehicle. Downtown surveillance cameras showed the assault and also showed Pierre Downs as the suspect who stole the firearm from the vehicle.
Downs was arrested on October 7th without incident during the search warrant.
At the time, Downs was charged with the following offenses in connection with the September 2016 robbery:
-Robbery 1st Degree
-Assault 2nd Degree
-Conspiracy 2nd Degree
-Theft of Firearm
-Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
-Theft Under $1,500
-CCDW
-Possession of Switch Blade
-Possession of Deadly Weapon by Person Prohibited
Downs was found guilty at trial of Robbery 1st Degree, Conspiracy 2nd Degree, Assault 3rd Degree, Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited, and Theft of a Firearm. He was sentenced to 44 years of Level 5 confinement on April 6, 2018.
The Dover Police Department worked with the Wilmington Field Office of the ATF Baltimore Field Division, Delaware Probation and Parole, and the Delaware Deputy Attorney General’s office (Kent County) to successfully charge and prosecute Downs in this case.
The Delaware Department of Justice handled the prosecution, with Deputy Attorney General Lindsay Taylor doing the initial review and securing the indictment, and Deputy Attorneys General Alicia Porter and Dennis Kelleher trying the case. DOJ special investigator James “Pete” Fraley played an integral part in the case, as did DOJ social worker Kerry McElwee.
Chief Marvin Mailey of the Dover Police Department was pleased with the outcome, stating “I am proud of the efforts of the officers of the Dover Police Department and of the agencies that had a hand in putting a career criminal behind bars and keeping him off our streets for a long time. Downs was well known to the Dover Police Department and his lengthy sentence should help in keeping our city safer and also serve as a notice to other career criminals that we will work diligently to get them off our streets as well.”
“It is our top priority to see that violent felons like Mr. Downs, who disregard the law and threaten the safety of our communities, are brought to justice for their crimes,” added Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr., of ATF Baltimore Field Division. “The strong partnership between ATF and the Dover Police Department is integral to stopping violent individuals from terrorizing law-abiding citizens, and it shows in this case. I commend the commitment ATF Special Agents, Task Force Officers, DPD Police, the Deputy Attorneys General, and more have shown to this case.”
