Author: Dover Police Department

Overview:                                                                                                                                       Since 2011, the Dover Police Department has investigated 2,773 shoplifting cases, averaging 2.5 per day. In an effort to help reduce the amount of shoplifting cases, the department will begin a weekly notification displaying the names and booking photos of those arrested. The goal of the notifications is to notify Dover merchants of offenders in hopes of being able to reduce the number of shoplifting cases. The majority of shoplifting cases are committed by repeat offenders and the department’s goal is that by releasing the information, store employees will be better informed when monitoring their stores and inventory, and suspects will think twice before stealing merchandise in fear that their name and photo will be shared with the public.
By The Numbers:
It is a common misconception that shoplifting only affects the business that was stolen from and is a petty crime. This idea could not be further from the truth. In the United States, more than $13 billion in merchandise is stolen every year; that’s more than $5 million per day. The costs of the loss and the stores increased security measures get passed on to consumers, directly affecting the incomes of honest people.
In Dover, there have been 2,773 shoplifting cases reported to the police in the last 3 years, with 920 of those coming in 2013. Some studies have shown that shoplifters are only caught 1 in 48 times. Combine those numbers with the incidents not reported to police and it’s clear that shoplifting has become a consistent problem in the City of Dover. Department’s using similar shoplifting arrest notifications have seen cases drop as much as 10% in the 1st year of the program. The feedback from merchants and the public in those respective jurisdictions has been very positive and the results can be directly tied to the notification program.
The Drug Problem:
It is the belief of the Dover Police Department that a large amount of shoplifting cases can be connected to illegal drugs. Many shoplifters are stealing goods because they have spent their income on illegal narcotics or are selling/trading the stolen goods to purchase illegal drugs. By declining the number of shopliftings and displaying the suspects, the department hopes that it will also have an effect on illegal drug activity in the City of Dover.

The Notifications:
The department will release a photo similar to the one below on a weekly basis. This photo will be posted on the department’s website (www.doverpolice.org) and social media outlets as with all other press releases. In fact, the image is essentially another form of a traditional press release. As with any arrest, shoplifting arrests and booking photos are public information and the defendants should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Who Gets Posted?
In short, ANYONE who is 18 and over will be posted. Regardless of the dollar amount, store, or reasoning, every adult shoplifting suspect arrested will have their photo and name released. Juveniles WILL NOT have their information or photos released.

Goals of the Program:
1-The primary goal of the program is to reduce the amount of shoplifting cases in the City of Dover.
2-To notify Dover merchants of shoplifting suspects so they can more efficiently monitor their store and inventory from the intelligence they will now receive. Merchants will now be able to know what stores a suspect has stolen from, providing the ability for merchants to share information with each other in an effort to reduce loss.
3-Lessen the ability of suspects to sell/trade stolen goods for illegal drugs or money. By sharing this information, merchants, pawn shops, secondary markets (auctions/flea markets/online classifieds), and the general public will be aware of the possibility that items they purchase may have been stolen.
4-Prevent the growing price of goods directly affected by the loss a merchant incurs from shoplifting. These costs are frequently passed on to the honest consumers.
5-Identify suspects in other criminal cases. Many times, shoplifting suspects are involved in other illegal activities. By sharing their booking photo and names, it is possible that they can be identified as suspects in other cases by other law enforcement agencies, merchants, and the general public.
6- Lessen the amount of time officers spend on these complaints to focus their patrol efforts in other areas and on other crimes.

The 1st release of shoplifting suspects will begin in the month of August. The department will provide announcements through their website and social media outlets ahead of the 1st release in order to give suspects fair warning of the new program.

-Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Update: Dajaniel Smith turned himself in to the Dover Police Department on the below charges at approximately 2:30PM on Thursday, July 10th.  Bond information was not available at the time of this release.

Incident #: 50-14-17813      Date/Time:  Wednesday, July 9 at 2:14PM

Location: 200 Block of North New Street, Dover, Delaware

Narrative:
The Dover Police Department is seeking Dajaniel Smith (22) of Camden in connection with a domestic related incident that occurred on Wednesday, July 9th.  At approximately 2:14PM, officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of North New Street after receiving a frantic 911 call from a female victim.  According to the victim, she and Smith were engaged in a dispute when Smith began to strangle her, causing her to eventually lose consciousness.  Smith did this while the victims two children were present.  Once the victim regained consciousness, Smith broke the victims phone as she attempted to notify police and fled prior to police arrival.  Smith’s last known address is on Willow Grove Road in Camden, Delaware.

Dajaniel Smith currently has a warrant for the following charges:

• Strangulation (Felony)
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2x)
• Malicious Interference with Emergency Communications

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

Incident #: 50-14-17813      Date/Time:  Wednesday, July 9 at 2:14PM

Location: 200 Block of North New Street, Dover, Delaware

Narrative:
The Dover Police Department is seeking Dajaniel Smith (22) of Camden in connection with a domestic related incident that occurred on Wednesday, July 9th.  At approximately 2:14PM, officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of North New Street after receiving a frantic 911 call from a female victim.  According to the victim, she and Smith were engaged in a dispute when Smith began to strangle her, causing her to eventually lose consciousness.  Smith did this while the victims two children were present.  Once the victim regained consciousness, Smith broke the victims phone as she attempted to notify police and fled prior to police arrival.  Smith’s last known address is on Willow Grove Road in Camden, Delaware.

Dajaniel Smith currently has a warrant for the following charges:

• Strangulation (Felony)
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2x)
• Malicious Interference with Emergency Communications

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

Update: Antonio Stevens turned himself in at 6:30PM on Wednesday, July 9th after learning he had a warrant for his arrest. Stevens was taken into custody without incident and is being held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center without bail at this time.

Incident #: 50-14-15920      Date/Time:  Saturday, June 21st at 2:47AM

Location: Sunset Drive, Dover, Delaware

Original Narrative:
The Dover Police Department has obtained a warrant for the arrest of Antonio Stevens (22) for the robbery of a pedicab driver on June 21st.  At approximately 2:47AM on June 21st, Stevens entered a pedicab being operated by a 29-year-old male driving Firefly Music Festival Attendees to various destinations.  Stevens asked to be transported to the area of Lakeview and Sunset Drive from the area of the festival.  Upon arrival, Stevens placed a handgun to the victims back and demanded his money and personal belongings.  Stevens fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and the victims cell phone towards the area of the Dover Inn.  Officers from the Dover police Department with the assistance of a Delaware State police K-9 were able to track Stevens path of travel towards the Dover Inn.  When a phone call was made to the victims cell phone by the officers, it was found on the roof of the hotel.  Detectives obtained surveillance footage of the area from the hotel staff and were able to identify Stevens from the footage.  If anybody knows the whereabouts of Stevens, please call the Dover police Department at 302-736-7111.  Stevens is currently wanted on the following charges:

• Robbery 1st Degree
• Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
• Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony
• Offensive Touching

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

Incident #: 50-14-15920      Date/Time:  Saturday, June 21st at 2:47AM

Location: Sunset Drive, Dover, Delaware

Narrative:
The Dover Police Department has obtained a warrant for the arrest of Antonio Stevens (22) for the robbery of a pedicab driver on June 21st.  At approximately 2:47AM on June 21st, Stevens entered a pedicab being operated by a 29-year-old male driving Firefly Music Festival Attendees to various destinations.  Stevens asked to be transported to the area of Lakeview and Sunset Drive from the area of the festival.  Upon arrival, Stevens placed a handgun to the victims back and demanded his money and personal belongings.  Stevens fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and the victims cell phone towards the area of the Dover Inn.  Officers from the Dover police Department with the assistance of a Delaware State police K-9 were able to track Stevens path of travel towards the Dover Inn.  When a phone call was made to the victims cell phone by the officers, it was found on the roof of the hotel.  Detectives obtained surveillance footage of the area from the hotel staff and were able to identify Stevens from the footage.  If anybody knows the whereabouts of Stevens, please call the Dover police Department at 302-736-7111.  Stevens is currently wanted on the following charges:

• Robbery 1st Degree
• Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
• Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony
• Offensive Touching

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

Incident #: 50-14-17471      Date/Time:  Sunday, July 6th at 12:32Am

Location: Elks Lodge, 217 North Kirkwood Street, Dover, Delaware

Narrative:
  The Dover Police Department has arrested a 17-year-old in the shooting of two people at a Dover Elks Lodge just after midnight on Sunday, July 6th.  The incident occurred when James Ewell (17) entered the establishment just 3 minutes after midnight on Sunday, July 6th, without security/lodge staff noticing.  Shortly after he entered the lodge, Ewell fired at least three shots, leaving two men injured.  A 44-year-old male victim was struck twice in the upper leg and a 25-year-old male was shot in the lower leg.  Both victims were treated at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.  Witnesses in the lodge at the time of the shooting advised officers that the suspect (Ewell) was approximately 16-20 years of age.  Detectives working the case reviewed surveillance footage of the Elks lodge entrance/lobby area and were able to identify the suspect, even seeing a 9mm handgun in his hand as he fled the lodge after the shooting.  Further investigation by the Criminal Investigations Unit revealed James Ewell as a suspect.  Photos of Ewell were obtained and matched the suspect shown in the Elks Lodge surveillance video footage.  Ewell was arrested on Tuesday evening at the William Marion Stevenson House Detention Center.  Ewell was being held there on unrelated charges after the shooting occurred.  Bond information is not available at the time of this release.

Charges:

• Assault 1st Degree (2x)
• Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony
• Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
• Burglary 2nd Degree
• Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (firearm)

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

As warmer temperatures have arrived, the City of Dover Police Department has seen an increase in the number of calls for excessively loud music/noise coming from vehicles and loud parties.  The department is reminding the public that audible music and bass outside of 50 feet is illegal and can result in fines ranging from $50-$107.  If a person is renting a residence and receives 2 or more noise violations within a 12 month period, they are subject to mandatory eviction as well.  Members of the Community Policing/Quality of Life Unit will proactively enforce these violations, especially in the downtown college, residential, and shopping districts in an effort to educate the public and improve the quality of life for the citizens in those areas.  We ask that while you enjoy the season, be mindful of others on the road and the neighbors surrounding you.

Delaware State Law:

• Title 21, Section 4306 (c) No person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on any street, highway, alley, or parking lot shall operate or permit the operation of any music amplification system, including, but not limited to, any radio, tape player, compact disc player, or any other electrical device used for the amplification of music in or on the motor vehicle so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of 50 or more feet from the vehicle. For the purpose of this subsection, “plainly audible” means any sound which clearly can be heard by unaided hearing faculties, however, words or phrases need not be discernible and bass reverberation alone shall be sufficient to so constitute.