Month: March 2024

Incident/Complaint#:  50-24-9383

Date:  Monday, March 18th, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

Location: 700 Block of Slaughter Street, Dover, DE

Officer Releasing Information:  Master Corporal Ryan Schmid, Public Information Officer

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department has issued a Gold Alert for a mother and her two children. The investigation began at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, when Tiffany Hughes, 38, of Dover was reported missing by a family member after she had not been seen or heard from since March 10th, 2024. Tiffany’s children, Phoenix Hughes, 10, and River Hughes, 3, who live with her, have also not been seen since that date and are believed to be with their mother. Tiffany is a black female, 5’9″, approximately 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what Tiffany was wearing when she left the home. Tiffany does have a condition that may pose a risk to her health and well-being if not properly monitored and treated.

Phoenix Hughes is a black female with brown eyes and brown hair.

River Hughes is a black female with brown eyes, and brown hair.

It is believed that the Hughes’ were last at their residence on or around March 10th.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Tiffany and her children, please contact Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111.

Incident Number:  50-24-9277

Date/Time: Sunday, March 17th, 2024 at 4:47 p.m.

Location: Verizon, 1045 North DuPont Highway 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 a 17-year-old Hispanic male, of Dover, for stealing a car following multiple car accidents early Sunday evening. The investigation began at 4:47 p.m., when Dover Police was called to the area of Verizon, 1045 North DuPont Highway Dover, DE for the report of a vehicle collision involving several vehicles and one of the vehicles, a 2012 Dodge Ram, was overturned in the parking lot. Upon arrival, Officers contacted the driver of the Dodge Ram, who was identified as the 17-year-old from Dover. Through the investigation, it was determined that the 17-year-old stole the Dodge Ram from the unit Block of Commerce Way, and proceeded to drive the vehicle throughout the City of Dover. At some point prior to the accident at Verizon, the 17-year-old was in the Town Pointe development and got into another accident involving a parked car in the 300 block of MacArthur Drive. The 17-year-old fled from this scene and committed several traffic violations, ultimately causing the collision at Verizon, which resulted in the building being damaged, vehicles being damaged and the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident being transported to an area hospital for injuries sustained as a result of the collision. Officers attempted to take the 17-year-old into custody and he resisted arrested however he was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

The 17-year-old was transported to Dover Police where he was charged with the following offenses and turned over to his guardian:
-Theft of a Motor Vehicle
-Resisting Arrest
-Leaving the Scene of a Property Collision
-Reckless Driving
-Driving Without a Valid License
-Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device
-Vehicular Assault Third Degree
-Criminal Trespass Third Degree

The 17-year-old is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Dover Police Department is seeking feedback from the community by offering citizens the opportunity to complete an online survey.  The Community Satisfaction Survey allows citizens who respond to remain anonymous, while providing honest feedback about the Dover Police Department. The feedback received from the survey will help the police department determine the needs and priorities of the community and help to provide better policing services for the City of Dover.  

The survey allows the community to provide input in areas such as overall performance and competence of the Dover Police Department, crime/safety related issues, authorized strength (number of officers employed), and general opinions on how to improve police services for the City of Dover.

The survey will remain online for approximately 90 days before results are collected and analyzed.

The Dover Police Department has conducted these surveys before in accordance with Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) standards, with this being the fourth time it is being offered online.  The 2024 survey can be found at the following link:

2024 Dover Police Department Community Survey

Incident Number:  50-24-8716

Date/Time: Between March 7th, 2024 at 11:00 p.m. and Friday, March 8th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Location: Cold Stone, 1051 North DuPont Highway, 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 is investigating a burglary that occurred at Cold Stone last week. The investigation began on March 13th at 12:26 p.m., when the owner of the store called Dover Police to report the burglary. Officers responded, and the ensuing investigation revealed that sometime between March 7th at 11:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on March 8th, an unknown suspect entered the rear door of the business that was left unsecured. Once inside, the suspect(s) removed property from the business and left. During this incident, the rear door of this business was damaged as well.

There is no suspect description available at this time.

This 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 www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com ; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.

You can follow the Dover Police Department by clicking on:

Dover Police Website

Facebook

Twitter

Incident Number:  50-23-23942

Date/Time: The Month of June of 2023

Location: City of 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 Courtney Hughes, 24, of Elkton, Maryland following a firearms investigation that began in June of 2023. During the month of June 2023, the Dover Police Department arrested Khalil Smith, 19, of Dover, after he was found in possession of a 9mm handgun and he is prohibited from possessing firearms.(For details on this incident, click here) After this arrest, the Dover Police Department’s Drugs, Vice and Organized Crime Unit, in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), began an investigation into how Smith obtained the firearm. Through their investigations, it was determined that Hughes purchased the firearm for Smith, and intentionally made false statements when purchasing the firearm.

On February 23rd, 2024, Hughes was arrested by the U.S Marshal Service First State Fugitive Task Force at a residence in Elkton, Maryland. Hughes was extradited on February 28th, 2024 back to Delaware, where she was formally charged. 

Hughes was released on unsecured bond on the following charges:
-Giving a Firearm to a Person Prohibited
-Engaging in a Firearms Transaction on Behalf of Another
-Intentionally makes False Oral or Written Statements intended or likely to deceive the licensee in purchase of a Firearm
-Provide False Statement to Law Enforcement
-Conspiracy Second Degree

Hughes is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Incident Number:  50-24-8673

Date/Time: Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 11:38 p.m.

Location: Bally’s Hotel and Casino, 1131 North DuPont Highway, 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 Recardo Weatherspoon, 57, of Dover, on Robbery charges following an incident late Tuesday night. The investigation began at 11:38 p.m., when Dover Police received a call for a robbery that just occurred at Bally’s where a purse was stolen at knife point. While responding to the scene, a witness contacted the Dover Police Department and reported that they saw the incident and were actively watching the suspect flee and provided officers with his location. Officers responded to this area and located Weatherspoon hiding in the bushes. He was taken into custody without incident.

The ensuing investigation revealed that the victim was sitting her vehicle when Weatherspoon got in through an unsecured door, displayed a knife, and demanded she turn over her purse. The victim complied and Weatherspoon fled but was caught, as described above, shortly after this incident.

Weatherspoon was processed and arraigned at Dover Police Department.

Weatherspoon was committed to SCI on $42,000 cash bail on the following charges:
-Robbery First Degree
-Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony
-Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited

Incident Number:  50-24-5118

Date/Time: Between February 2023 and March 2023

Location: Legends Elite, 155 Commerce Way Suite D 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 Thomas Keaton, 31, of Dover, for several charges related to a relationship he had with a former athlete/employee of Legends Elite, 155 Commerce Way Suite D Dover, DE. During the month of February 2024, the Dover Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit was contacted regarding a sexual relationship that had occurred between Keaton, who owned Legends Elite, and a female athlete/employee of the gym, who was 17-years-old when the relationship began. Through the investigation, it was revealed that Keaton had engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl between the months of February 2023 and March of 2023. Warrants were obtained for Keaton and on March 11, 2024, he turned himself in to Dover Police Department where he was processed and arraigned.

Keaton was committed to SCI on $121,000 cash bail on the following charges:
-Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person of Trust First Degree (5x)
-Rape Fourth Degree (3x)
-Sexual Solicitation of a Child Under 18 Years Old
-Unlawful Sexual Contact Second Degree

Because of the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victim, only limited information will be released at this time. Any questions regarding Keaton’s status with Legends Elite should be sent to the gym directly.

If anyone feels they may have been a victim of Keaton, he or she is asked to contact Detective Brandon Bowman at (302) 736-7141.

Keaton is presumed innocent until proven guilty.