Author: Dover Police Department

Once again, NASCAR race week is upon us here in Dover, Delaware. The City of Dover Police Department welcomes fans to the 2014 NASCAR Race Series at the Dover International Speedway beginning on Friday, May 30 for the “Lucas Oil 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series; Saturday, May 31 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series; and Sunday, June 1 for the “Dover 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.   The biannual event is rolling into Dover this week and can bring over 100,000 people to the capital city.  As with any other large event, race weekend can provide numerous challenges for our department, the citizens of Dover, and the fans coming in.  The Dover Police Department in coordination  DelDOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) and the Delaware State Police will monitor traffic in and around the Dover vicinity to ensure safe travel for motorists.  The Dover Police Department would like to offer the following tips/advice to help make life a little easier this week for our citizens and visitors to the Dover area.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

• In Any Emergency: Dial 9-1-1
• Dover Police Department (Non-Emergency Line): 302-736-7111
• Text alerts from Dover Speedway: Text DOVERALERTS to 99000 to sign up.
• Dover Speedway: 1-800-441-RACE (7223)
• Dover Speedway Security: 302-883-6750

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Dover Police Department Facebook
• Dover Police Department Twitter or @DoverDEPolice
• Dover International Speedway Facebook
• Dover International Speedway Twitter or @MonsterMile
• DelDOT (DE Dept. of Transportation) Facebook
• DelDOT Twitter or @Delaware DOT

TRAFFIC:

• Most race related traffic will begin to arrive Wednesday and continue through the weekend.  The increased volume will cause minor delays in the area of the Dover Downs main entrance, US Rt 13/Leipsic Road, and Route 1/Scarborough Road areas.  Please allow extra time for your morning commute to avoid delays.
• TAKE IT SLOW:  When traveling the Route 13 corridor, please obey all posted speed limits and traffic laws.  Not only does volume increase on our roadways but pedestrian traffic is substantially higher than normal.
• Use alternate routes prior to the race start and at the conclusion of each race to avoid the traffic congestion that occurs when the races let out.  Route 9, Route 1, Route 8, and Route 15 are great alternatives to avoid the race traffic.
• YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS
• BE AWARE of police/traffic officials directing traffic and follow their commands to reach your destination safely.

 RACE FAN SAFETY/SECURITY:

• Please do not drink and drive or cross roadways when impaired.
• Cross roadways at intersections or where police officials are directing traffic in order to cross safely.
• Please obey all police/traffic officials directions.
• Only travel in the passenger compartment of vehicles with seat belts on and not truck beds, bumpers, tailgates, etc.
• Do not operate golf carts, ATV’s, and other non-registered vehicles on roadways
• Secure all property (bikes, golf carts, coolers, etc) prior to leaving your camp sites
• Remove keys and secure golf carts to a fixed object when possible to avoid theft.
• Lock all campers/RV’s and secure tent zippers with locks if possible

FIRST AID LOCATIONS AT THE TRACK:

First Aid locations are open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the following areas:

• Finish Line Drive, across from Gate 1 (Open Thursday also)
• Corner of Persimmon Tree Lane and Pit Stop Road near Lot 9
• Gate5 (South side of track)
• Across from Gate 15 (Near hospitality village)
• Inside Turn 4, just outside of Nationwide Series Garage (Restricted Access)

LOST CHILD/PARTY SEPARATION:

• In the event of a lost child (under 18), please contact the nearest speedway employee/security or police officer.  Details such as clothing, location last seen, recent photographs, etc will be beneficial to reuniting a child and parent/guardian.
• If you have lost a member of your party (adult), contact a Speedway employee, security, or go to the Fan Care Center on Finish Line Drive across from Gate 1.

CITY OF DOVER OPEN CONTAINER ORDINANCE:

• Public place means any place to which the general public has access and a right to resort for business, entertainment, or other lawful purposes, but does not necessarily mean a place devoted solely to the use of the public. It shall also include the front or immediate area of any store, shop, restaurant, tavern, or other place of business and also public grounds, areas, or parks.

  (b) Public places. Except when permitted by federal, state, county or municipal law, it is unlawful for any person to consume, or possess with the intent to consume, any alcoholic liquor in or upon any street, alley, highway, public way, public building or public place within the city.

  (c)Underage persons. Whoever, being under the age of 21 years, has alcoholic liquor in his possession at any time, or consumes or is found to have consumed alcoholic liquor, shall be fined as provided for in Appendix F—Fees and Fines.  Fines not paid within 14 days of the day the fine was issued, including the day the fine was issued, shall be automatically doubled in amount.

Incident #: 50-14-12774      Date/Time: Thursday May 22, 2014  7:45Am (reported)

Location: E&J Liquors, 828 Forest Street, Dover, DE

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department is investigating an overnight burglary at the E&J Liquor store located at 828 Forest Street.  Sometime between Wednesday, May 21st at 10:15PM and Thursday, May 22nd at 7:45AM, an unknown suspect gained entry into the business by forcing an air conditioning unit through a window.  The suspect then removed several bottles of liquor and cans of Bud Ice beer. The suspect then fled out the window with the items.  Anyone with any information is asked to call 302-736-7111.  Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on-line at www.tipsubmit.com.

Update:The Dover Police Department has arrested 23-year-old Lance Parker in connection with the robbery that occurred early Saturday morning in the parking lot of PNC Bank.  Parker and an unknown accomplice approached a female victim as she was making the night deposit for her employer and displayed a handgun, demanding the deposit.  The victim complied and no injuries were reported.  Detectives from the Dover Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit were able to develop Parker as a suspect after tracing his GPS monitoring unit issued by Probation and Parole, which placed Parker in the area at the time of the robbery.  Parker was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $60,500 CASH bond.

Incident #: 50-14-12293      Date/Time:   Saturday May 17, 2014  5:30AM

Location: Parking Lot of PNC Bank, 87 Greentree Drive, Dover, DE

Original Narrative:  On Saturday May 17, 2014 at approximately 0530 hours a female victim was seated in her vehicle in the parking lot of the PNC Bank on Greentree Dr.  The victim stated that she was about to make the night deposit for her employer, Shore Stop, when she was approached by an unknown black male suspect. The suspect was armed with black a small frame semi-automatic handgun. The suspect demanded the deposit bag from the victim and fled with same towards Kenton Rd on foot. The suspect is described as a black male, early 30’s, 5’8″ to 5’9″, average build and was wearing all black clothing and his face was covered with a cream colored towel. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Gott at 736-7138 or Dover PD at 736-7111

Incident #: 50-14-12758      Date/Time:   Wednesday May 21, 2014  2216 PM

Location: Rt. 13 Southbound at Roosevelt Ave. Dover, DE

Narrative:

On Wednesday May 21, 2014 at 2216 hours the Dover Police Drug Vice and Organized Crime Unit and Dover Safe Streets Unit contacted defendants Amber Plum and Philip Wooten both from Harrington, Delaware during a traffic stop at the above location. The investigation continued with the discovery of 434 bags of Heroin packaged for sale inside the vehicle. The defendants were also in possession of an additional 11.2 grams of raw Heroin packaged in two larger bags. If the raw Heroin was packaged the same way as the other bags it would have yielded another 560 bags for a total of 994 bags. Officers located drug paraphernalia, prescription pills and $1370.00 in united states currency. Defendant Amber Plum was committed to Baylor’s Correctional Center in default of $55,250.00 secured bail. Defendant Philip Wooten was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $55, 250.00 Secured bail

Officer Releasing Information

Lt. David E. Spicer

302-736-7132

On April 24th, the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, released the approved funding allocations for the annual formula based Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for the FY2014 Local Solicitation. The Dover Police Department was listed as a disparate entity along with Kent County, Delaware. The total amount awarded this year is $51,549.00

As a result, the Dover Police Department will submit a joint application for the funds with Kent County. However, because the Kent County structure does not contain a law enforcement agency, the whole amount will be available for use by the Dover Police Department. The department plans to use the funds for technology upgrades which will include upgrading and replacing vehicle computer and video systems. Many of the department’s vehicles were adversely affected by the recent termination of support of computers operating on Windows XP on April 8, 2014 since the older model computers were not compatible with the new Windows 7 operating system, so the funds will be used to retrofit some of the older vehicle systems and also equip the new vehicles scheduled for purchase during the next fiscal year (FY15) that starts on July 1st.

The deadline for the joint application is June 10th and will be submitted through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Program’s Grants Management System electronically on-line.

Public comments and questions are welcome below or through the CONTACT US section of our site.

Incident #: 50-14-12643       Date/Time: Tuesday  May 20, 2014  2100 PM

Location: Race Track Car Wash 226 N. DuPont Hwy Dover, DE

Narrative:

On May 20, 2014 at 2100 hours an unknown suspect used an unknown object to break the glass door to the victim business. Once inside the suspect ran to the front of the business and removed an employee “Tip Jar” containing an undisclosed amount of money. Video surveillance revealed the suspect fled the business with the tip jar in a north bound direction. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on-line at www.tipsubmit.com.

Officer releasing this information

Lt. David E. Spicer

302-736-7132

Update: The Dover Police Department has arrested a 18-year old in connection with the Tuesdsay evening robbery of a clerk of U.S. Gas located at 505 Bay Road. Jaquan Crump of Dover was charged with Robbery 1st Degree, Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a felony, Conspiracy 2nd, and Wearing a Disguise. Crump was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of 68,500.00 secured bond.

Incident #: 50-14-11307 Date/Time: Tuesday, May 6th at 10:13 PM

Location: US Gas, 505 South Bay Road, Dover, DE

Narrative:
The Dover Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit is investigating a late night robbery of the US Gas Station located at the corner of Bay Road and South Little Creek Road. The incident occurred at approximately 10:13PM on Tuesday, May 6th. Four male suspects entered the store through the front door, each wearing hooded sweatshirts, gloves, and facial disguises. The suspects displayed multiple weapons, one being a handgun, and the other appears to be a sawed off shotgun based on video footage shown below. The suspects demanded money from the clerk and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported from the incident. Police are hoping that the distinct pattern of the white sweatshirt that one suspect is wearing, along with his shoes will help in identifying the suspects in this crime. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on-line at www.tipsubmit.com.

Video and photos from the US Gas robbery: