Month: February 2020

Incident Number: 50-20-6764

Date/Time:  Between 9:00PM on 2-26-2020 and 11:00AM on 2-27-2020

Location:  Caribbean Market, 239 West Loockerman Street, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department is investigating a burglary that occurred at the Caribbean Market at 239 West Loockerman Street.  The burglary occurred sometime between 9:00PM on February 26th and 11:00AM on February 27th when an unknown suspect broke the front glass door to the business.  Once inside, the suspect stole two blankets and fled the area in an unknown direction.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous.  Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delawarecrimestoppers.com; a cash reward of up to $1,000 is possible for information leading to an arrest.

UPDATE:

On Tuesday, February 25th, 2020, officers from the Dover Police Department and the U.S. Marshals First State Fugitive Task Force executed a search warrant in the Unit Block of Stevenson Drive in the Manchester Square community, seeking Michael Benson, who was wanted on several drug charges stemming from a January 23rd incident (see original release below).  Benson was located in the home and arrested without incident.  Benson was committed to SCI on a $121,000 cash bond on the charges listed in the original release.

Incident Number: 50-20-2823

Date/Time:  Thursday, January 23rd, 2020 at 11:00PM

Location:  100 Block of Haman Drive , Dover, DE (The Willows at Clearfield Apts)

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

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department and Delaware Probation and Parole conducted a home visit at an apartment in the 100 Block of Haman Drive on Thursday, January 23rd.  At the time, officers located approximately 1,300 bags of heroin, .7 grams of marijuana, and $2,500 in cash (drug proceeds) belonging to Michael Benson (45), who was not at the residence at the time.  

Michael Benson remains wanted on the following charges:
-Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin
-Possession of Heroin
-Endangering the Welfare of a Child
-Drug Paraphernalia
-Violation of Probation

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous.  Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delawarecrimestoppers.com; a cash reward of up to $1,000 is possible for information leading to an arrest.

Incident Number: 50-20-6077

Date/Time:  Friday, February 21st, 2020 at 9:12PM

Location:  White Oak Road at Frear Drive, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: 

On Friday, February 21st, 2020, officers stopped a red Nissan Versa in the area of White Oak Road and Frear Drive for an equipment and moving violation.  When the vehicle stopped, the passenger of the vehicle fled the area on foot.  At the time officers, were unable to locate the suspect who fled.  During their investigation and interview with the driver, it was determined that the suspect was Zachary Rhinehardt (19), who resides in the 1400 Block of Garfield Drive.  Officers then responded to the home and were given owner consent to search the home for Rhinehardt.  Rhinehardt was not present, but officers located a .223 rifle inside of the suspects bedroom.  

On Monday, February 24th, 2020 at approximately 11:15AM, officers from the Dover Police Department, U.S. Marshals 1st State Fugitive Task Force, and Delaware Probation and Parole located Rhinehardt in the area of Towne Point Apartments.  Rhinehardt once again fled on foot, but was quickly apprehended.

Rhinehardt was committed to SCI on a $22,500 cash bond on the following new charges as well as a  $15,000 secured bond, and held without bail on previous charges and capias’.

Rhinehardt was charged with:
-Possession of Firearm By Person Prohibited
-Breach of Release
-Resisting Arrest (2x)

Incident Number: 50-20-6266

Date/Time:  Sunday, February 24, 2020 at 8:30PM

Location:  Walker Road, East of Butner Place, Dover, DE (Traffic Stop)

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

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department arrested 29-year-old Markus King on drug charges following a traffic stop on Sunday evening.  At approximately 8:30PM, officers stopped King in the area of Walker Road and Butner Place for driving without headlights.  When they contacted King in the vehicle, officers observed illegal drugs in plain view.  A search of the vehicle and King, led to the seizure of 7.9 grams of cocaine, 15 doses of MDMA, 15.6 grams of marijuana, and $1,035 in drug proceeds.  

King was released on an unsecured bond on the following charges:
-Possession of MDMA
-Possession with Intent to Deliver MDMA
-Possession of Cocaine
-Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine
-Possession of Marijuana
-Drug Paraphernalia
-Traffic Offenses

Incident Number: 50-20-6195

Date/Time:  Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 at 11:12PM

Location:  The Artful Barber, 301 West Loockerman Street, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department is investigating a burglary that occurred on Saturday night at a local barber shop.  Officers on patrol in the area were contacted by a passerby who advised them that it appeared a door to The Artful Barber was open.  Officers checked and discovered that the door was forced open and had damage to the door frame.  Officers cleared the business and made contact with the owner who responded to the scene.  During a check of the business it was discovered that approximately 36 sets of hair clippers were stolen and most of the storage drawers in the business had been disturbed.  

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous.  Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delawarecrimestoppers.com; a cash reward of up to $1,000 is possible for information leading to an arrest.

Incident Number: 50-20-6181

Date/Time:  Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 at 10:05PM

Location:  U.S. Gas, 461 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department is investigating a robbery at U.S. Gas where seven suspects were involved.  Officers responded to U.S. Gas at 10:05PM on Saturday night for what was reported as a fight in progress.  Upon arrival, officers contacted a 20-year-old male employee of the store who advised that a robbery had taken place.  The male suspect told officers that he was helping a customer at the fuel pumps when he observed two suspects inside the store and multiple suspects standing near the front door.  The suspects were lingering in the area after they attempted to buy tobacco products but were turned down for not producing identification.  The employee observed two suspects grabbing items inside the store and he left the fuel pumps to enter the store and address the matter.  One of the suspects stood in front of the door and refused to let the employee inside.  The employee stated that he was then struck from behind by one of the suspects and was then assaulted by another member of the group.  The suspects then began removing items from the employees pockets and  took an undisclosed amount of cash from his pockets and fled on foot in an eastbound direction on Townsend Boulevard.  The suspects were described as six black males and one white male.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous.  Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delawarecrimestoppers.com; a cash reward of up to $1,000 is possible for information leading to an arrest.

Incident Number: 50-20-5655

Date/Time:  Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 at 5:58PM

Location:  Simon Circle and West North Street, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: 

The Dover Police Department arrested a 20-year-old Dover man after a shooting occurred on Tuesday evening.  At approximately 5;58PM, officers were called to the area of West North Street and Simon Circle for shots fired.  Upon arrival, officers located a 13-year-old male with a graze wound to his face.  The victim was transported to Kent General Hospital where he was treated and released for the injury.  In addition to the victim, two homes were also struck by gunfire.  Arriving officers observed Darius Jean-Baptiste fleeing on foot from the scene.  Jean-Baptiste was apprehended by police and determined to be the suspect in the shooting.  

Darius Jean-Baptiste was committed to SCI in default of $73,200 cash bond on the following charges:
-Assault 2nd Degree
-Possession of Firearm During Commission of Felony
-Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
-Reckless Endangering (4x)
-Criminal Mischief (2x)