Narrative: The Dover Police Department has arrested Williams Friends, 21, of Felton, and a 17-year-old male, of Dover, on gun charges following an incident Monday afternoon. The investigation began at 1:27 p.m. when Detectives from the Drugs, Vice and Organized Crime Unit along with members of the Street Crimes Unit contacted Friends, and the 17-year-old male in the area of Barrister Place in reference to a firearm investigation. Both suspects initially ran but were taken into custody after a foot pursuit. While running, the 17-year-old dropped a 9mm SCCY handgun that had been concealed in his waistband. Friends was found in possession of a backpack which included a 9mm Smith and Wesson Handgun, a 9mm SCCY Handgun, and a 9mm Glock 17. The ensuing investigation revealed that the 9mm SCCY handgun that Friends was in possession of was reported stolen.
Both suspects were taken to Dover Police Department where they were processed and arraigned.
Friends was committed to SCI on $8,200 secured bail on the following charges: -Carrying A Concealed Deadly Weapon (3x) -Illegal Gang Participation -Receiving Stolen Property -Resisting Arrest
The 17-year-old male was released on $50,000 unsecured bail on the following charges: -Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited -Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon -Illegal Gang Participation -Resisting Arrest
Both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Narrative: The Dover Police Department continues to investigate Isiah Worthy, 28, of Dover, following his initial arrest on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in relation to graffiti vandalism throughout the City of Dover. For details of this incident, Click here. Following his initial arrest, Patrol Officers worked with Detectives to determine if there were any more instances of graffiti making reference to the “KKK” in the City and if there could be a connection to Worthy. The investigation revealed 6 additional instances where Worthy had used a permanent marker to deface public and/or private property. The most concerning case was the defacing of a sign in front of the Holy Trinity Church, 101 South New Street. Detectives obtained a warrant for Worthy, and on April 25th, 2025, he turned himself in to the Dover Police Department. He was processed and arraigned, and ultimately released on OR bond on the following charges:
Graffiti (6x) Possession of Graffiti Instrument (6x)
He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Based on the nature of the graffiti and the messaging used during each incident, the Dover Police Department contacted the Delaware Department of Justice Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust. Under existing Delaware DOJ guidelines, all “hate crime” determinations are made by a Deputy Attorney General assigned to the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust. In this particular case, the investigation has not yet established all of the elements needed for a successful “hate crime” prosecution.
Chief Thomas Johnson Jr. provided the following comments related to this case: “There is considerable and understandable community concern related to the vandalism of a predominantly black house of worship that includes a reference to the KKK. Hate Crimes are some of the most despicable moments in the life cycle of a community. In addition to the Dover Police Department, all of the City’s Administration, led by our elected officials, stands in solidarity with our residents to state, “there is no place for hate in Dover.” The Dover Police Department remains in close contact with the DOJ Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust as this investigation continues.
Mayor Robin R. Christiansen has been kept abreast of this case since the beginning and has offered the following message. “Hate of any kind, whether it be speech or violence by anyone or any group will not, I repeat, will NOT be tolerated. I personally will use all my authority to see that any individual, or group of individuals, no matter who they are, when possible, are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in either State or Federal Court. HATE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE CITY OF DOVER.”
On behalf of the Dover Police Department, Chief Thomas Johnson had the following comment. “The Dover Police Department is in alignment with the strong message of Mayor Christiansen that all potential hate crimes will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted as far as the law will allow. The Department also respects the role of the DOJ when the facts are evaluated and prosecutorial decisions are made in alignment with State Statutes and existing case law. It is noteworthy that Delaware has more protected classes codified in its hate crimes statute than those listed in Federal Law. This case presents another opportunity to reaffirm our stance against hate crimes while we wait and see what our system determines is the best assessment of the facts before us.”
If you have any information on this case, or were a victim of similar vandalism, please contact Detective Goad at 302-736-7143.
The following images contain the newest Megan’s Law Sex Offender Notifications for the City of Dover. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact the Dover Police Sex Offender Enforcement Unit.
Date/Time: Saturday, April 19th, 2025 at 9:06 p.m.
Location: Unit Block of South New Street, 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 shooting that occurred Saturday evening. The investigation began at 9:06 p.m. when Dover Police received a call for shots fired in the unit block of South New Street. Officers responded to the area and located multiple shell casings. Shortly after, a 27-year-old male of Dover arrived at Bayhealth Kent Campus with a gunshot wound to his lower body. The ensuing investigation revealed that the victim was standing in the unit block of South New Street when a silver vehicle drove by and the victim was shot. There is no further description of the suspect 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.
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The Dover Police Department has removed the medication drop box from our lobby at 400 South Queen Street, Dover, DE after there was an assessment done on how to best allocate resources.
While we remain committed to promoting public safety and preventing prescription drug misuse, the medication return box will no longer be available at our facility. We encourage residents to use alternative disposal locations to safely discard medications. Proper medication disposal helps protect our community by reducing the risk of substance abuse and preventing environmental contamination. We appreciate the public’s cooperation and commitment to safe disposal practices.
Additionally, The Dover Police Department will be participating in the DEA Drug Take Back Day on April 26th, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. During this time, you can bring old, expired, or unneeded medications for safe disposal. The location for this will be 400 South Queen Street Dover, DE.
Date/Time: Saturday, April 19th, 2025 at 2:57 p.m.
Location: 400 block of Barrister Place, 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 shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon. The investigation began at 2:57 p.m. when Dover Police received a call for shots fired in the 400 block of Barrister Place. Officers responded and began to check the area. The ensuing investigation revealed that a home and a vehicle in the 400 block of Barrister Place were struck by gunfire as a result of this incident. No injuries were reported as a result of this shooting and there are no leads 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.
Narrative: The Dover Police Department has arrested Leslie McGuire, 18, a 15-year-old male, and a 16-year-old male, all of Dover, on multiple charges following an early morning shooting that led to a vehicle pursuit. The investigation began at 7:51 a.m., when Patrol Officers responded to the area of Barrister Place and South Little Creek Road for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they spoke with the 15-year-old and 14-year-old victims. The ensuing investigation revealed that the victims were walking in a parking lot of Country Farms Store when a white Kia Optima pulled in and four black males wearing all black and black masks got out of the car. One of the suspects was armed with a revolver type handgun and pointed it at the victims, ultimately shooting the gun in the direction of the victims. The suspects then left in the white Kia Optima. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of this shooting.
After the shooting, the white Kia Optima used in the incident was located abandoned in a parking lot of a car dealership in Goldsboro, Maryland. It was determined that the Kia had been previously reported stolen from Camden, Delaware. It was determined that while at the dealership, the suspects stole a black Hyundai Elantra.
At 4:26 p.m., Dover Police Officers observed a black Hyundai Elantra without a license plate driving in the area of Capital Green. Officers attempted to stop this vehicle and the suspects failed to stop leading to a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit traveled throughout Dover and Camden, ultimately ending in the area of Willow Grove Road and Mahan Corner Road. McGuire, the 15-year-old, and the 16-year-old were all taken into custody without further incident and a .38 Caliber revolver was located inside.
The three suspects were transported to Dover Police Department where they were processed and arraigned.
It was learned that the suspects were all wanted by Delaware City Police Department for Motor Vehicle Theft. Additionally McGuire and the 16-year-old were wanted by the Delaware State Police on Motor Vehicle Theft charges. McGuire was also wanted by the Dover Police Department for Motor Vehicle Theft.
McGuire was committed to SCI on $47,000 cash bail on the following charges: -Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony -Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2x) -Reckless Endangering First Degree (2x) -Aggravated Menacing -Illegal Gang Participation -Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 -Conspiracy Second Degree
The 16-year-old male was committed to Stevenson House Detention Center on $25,0000 secured bail on the following charges: -Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony -Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2x) -Reckless Endangering First Degree (2x) -Aggravated Menacing -Illegal Gang Participation -Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 -Conspiracy Second Degree
The 15-year-old male was committed to Stevenson House Detention Center on $26,000 secured bail on the following charges: -Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony -Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2x) -Reckless Endangering First Degree (2x) -Aggravated Menacing -Illegal Gang Participation -Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 -Conspiracy Second Degree
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Dover Police Department would like to thank the Delaware State Police Troop 3 and Delaware State Police Aviation for their assistance in tracking and locating the suspects.
The Dover Police Department will be participating in an emergency response exercise at the Delaware State University Health Sciences Building, 300 South New Street Dover, DE on Thursday, April 17, 2025. The exercise is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:00 a.m. and is expected to end by 12:00p.m. Emergency equipment and personnel will be in the area of the facility, but should not affect traffic flow or daily operations.
These exercises are designed to test the capabilities of the Dover Police Department and other participating agencies in the event of a true emergency. The exercise also allows participants to become more educated about the resources that each individual agency and participant can provide in a true emergency and discuss ways to improve responses to such incidents.
This exercise is not expected to disrupt area traffic. There will be a large gathering of emergency vehicles, equipment, and personnel on site but the public should not be alarmed as this is only a training exercise.
Please call 302-736-7130 with any questions or concerns.
