Welfare Check Leads to Drug Dealing and Weapon Charges for Hartly Man

Incident Number: 50-22-36288

Date/Time:  Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at 1:46 a.m.

Location: Wawa, 1450 Forrest Avenue, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Master Corporal Ryan Schmid   Email: Ryan.Schmid@cj.state.de.us

Narrative: The Dover Police Department has arrested Zachary Groome, 26, of Hartly, DE, on drug dealing and weapon charges, following a welfare check at Wawa early Wednesday morning. The investigation began at 1:46 a.m., when Dover Police received a call for a welfare check at Wawa. It was reported that someone was sleeping inside of a vehicle in the parking lot. Officers responded and located the vehicle at the gas pumps. Officers contacted Groome inside of this vehicle. The officers immediately smelled marijuana inside the vehicle and a search was conducted. Officers located a Glock 19 9mm handgun, approximately 55 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and $794. Groome was taken into custody without incident and transported to Dover Police.

Groome was released on OR bond on the following charges:
-Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person
-Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
-Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
-Possession of Marijuana
-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia