Day: October 5, 2018

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-33415

Date/Time:   October 4th, 2018 at 2:20PM

Location:   Unit Block of North New Street, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: 

Elwood Jerome Ross (51) was arrested for 1st Degree Robbery on Thursday afternoon.  At approximately 2:20PM, officers responded to the Unit Block of North New Street when a 64-year-old man reported that he was robbed.  Ross approached the male victim just outside of his residence and forcefully removed cash from his hand, dragging him to the ground.  The incident was captured on downtown surveillance cameras.  A review of those cameras, showed Elwood Ross to be the suspect.  A short time later, officers in the area located Ross wearing the same clothing as he was during the robbery and took him into custody without incident.

Ross was committed to SCI in default of $25,000 bond on a single charge of Robbery 1st Degree (victim older than 62).

The video of this incident will not be released.

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-33340

Date/Time:    See Narrative

Location:    Clearfield Apartments, Haman Drive, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department arrested 62-year-old Dail Morris on several arson charges following a months long investigation by the Dover Police, Dover Fire Marshal, and Dover Fire Department.  The investigation was the result of several intentionally set fires inside of two buildings belonging to Clearfield Apartments between May and October of 2018.  Morris was charged with several charges related to the following incidents:

• 05/05/2018 at approximately 2057 a suspect started a fire in a trashcan inside of 100 Haman Drive
• 08/26/2018 at approximately 2135 a suspect started a fire in a trashcan inside of 100 Haman Drive
• 08/26/2018 at approximately 2247 a suspect started a fire in a trashcan inside of 100 Haman Drive
• 08/26/2018 at approximately 2358 a suspect started a fire in the hallway of 110 Haman Drive
• 09/10/2018 at approximately 2342 hours a suspect started a fire in a dumpster located in the parking lot of 110 Haman Drive
• 09/11/2018 at approximately 0035 hours a suspect started a fire in a dumpster located in the parking lot of 100 Haman Drive 
• 09/13/2018 at approximately 2200 hours a suspect started a fire in a dumpster located in the parking lot of 110 Haman Drive
• 10/3/2018 at approximately 2018 hours a suspect started a fire in a dumpster located in the parking lot of 110 Haman Drive
• 10/03/2018 at approximately 2051 hours a suspect started a fire inside of the laundry room of 100 Haman Drive
• 10/04/2018 at approximately 0015 hours a suspect started a fire on a vehicle causing approximately $2600 USC damage to same.

Dail Morris was committed to SCI in default of $28,500 secured bond on the following offenses:
-Arson 1st Degree (2x)
-Arson 2nd Degree
-Reckless Burning (7x)

A mugshot of Morris was not available at the time of release.