Category: Dover Police News

Incident Number: 50-22-21239

Date and Time: Sunday, July 10th, 2022 at 9:05 p.m.

Location: Target, 148 John Hunn Brown Road, Dover, DE

Contact: Dover Police Public Information Office
Sergeant Mark Hoffman Email: mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us

City of Dover Fire Marshals Office (Phil Lewis)
PLewis@dover.de.us

City of Dover Emergency Management (Kay Sass)
KSass@dover.de.us

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department has arrested a suspect in the July 10th arson that occurred at a Target department store as a result of a joint investigation with the City of Dover Fire Marshal’s Office. Through the collection and examination of in-store surveillance footage and physical evidence from the store, Desmond Smith (26), was identified as the sole suspect in the arson. It is believed that Smith set the fire as a diversion to steal a cart full of merchandise from the business. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Smith and executed a search warrant at his residence in the 900 Block of Whatcoat Drive at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 18th, 2022. Smith was taken into custody, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals First State Fugitive Task Force and the City of Dover Fire Marshal’s Office, without incident and later committed to SCI on a $137,000 cash bond after being arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court #7 on the following offenses:

-Arson 1st Degree
-Reckless Endangering 1st Degree (19x)
-Criminal Mischief $5,000 or Greater
-Shoplifting Under $1,500
-Wearing a Disguise During Commission of Felony

This successful investigation was the result of a collaborative effort between the Dover Police Department and City of Dover Fire Marshal’s Office.

If you wish to provide information on this case or other criminal activity, please 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 delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Dover Police Victim Services Unit is available to provide help and guidance.  You can contact the Victim Services Unit at 302-736-7134 or by email at: Diane.Glenn@cj.state.de.us

You can follow the Dover Police Department by clicking on:

Dover Police Website

Facebook

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Incident Number: 50-22-21239

Date and Time: Sunday, July 10th, 2022 at 9:05 p.m.

Location: Target, 148 John Hunn Brown Road, Dover, DE

Contact: Dover Police Public Information Office
Sergeant Mark Hoffman Email: mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department has arrested a suspect in the July 10th arson that occurred at a Target department store. Through the collection and examination of in-store surveillance footage and physical evidence from the store, Desmond Smith (26), was identified as the sole suspect in the arson. Smith set the fire as a diversion to steal a cart full of merchandise from the business. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Smith and executed a search warrant at his residence in the 900 Block of Whatcoat Drive at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 18th, 2022. Smith was taken into custody without incident and later committed to SCI on a $137,000 cash bond after being arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court #7 on the following offenses:

-Arson 1st Degree
-Reckless Endangering 1st Degree (19x)
-Criminal Mischief $5,000 or Greater
-Shoplifting Under $1,500
-Wearing a Disguise During Commission of Felony

If you wish to provide information on this case or other criminal activity, please 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 delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Dover Police Victim Services Unit is available to provide help and guidance.  You can contact the Victim Services Unit at 302-736-7134 or by email at: Diane.Glenn@cj.state.de.us

You can follow the Dover Police Department by clicking on:

Dover Police Website

Facebook

Twitter

Incident Number: 50-22-16110

Date and Time: May 28th, 2022 at 11:04 a.m.

Location: Wells Fargo Bank, 100 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE

Contact: Dover Police Public Information Office
Sergeant Mark Hoffman Email: mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department has identified Calvin Samuels (39) of Valley Stream, New York, as the suspect in the May 28th Wells Fargo Bank Robbery. Samuels was arrested by Newark Police on July 12th and charged with a series of bank robberies throughout the state (See Link: https://dsp.delaware.gov/2022/07/13/update-suspect-arrested-delaware-state-police-investigating-bank-robbery/) following a robbery in Newark, DE.

As a result of the arrest, the Dover Police Department was able to link Samuels to the May 28th Wells Fargo robbery and has obtained warrants for Robbery 2nd Degree and Wearing a Disguise During Commission of a Felony. Samuels will be officially charged at a later time. He is currently held on $108,000 bond at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, DE.

If you wish to provide information on this case or other criminal activity, please 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 delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Dover Police Victim Services Unit is available to provide help and guidance.  You can contact the Victim Services Unit at 302-736-7134 or by email at: Diane.Glenn@cj.state.de.us

You can follow the Dover Police Department by clicking on:

Dover Police Website

Facebook

Incident Number: 50-22-20297

Date and Time: Saturday, July 2nd, 2022 at 4:04 p.m.

Location: St. Jones River, behind Capitol Green, Dover, DE

Contact: Dover Police Public Information Office
Sergeant Mark Hoffman Email: mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department has made an arrest in connection with the discovery of a body, later identified as Jorge Valladares (30), in the Saint Jones River on July 2nd, 2022. During the investigation, information was obtained that Valladares’ death was possibly the result of a motor vehicle accident. On June 22nd, 2022, officers from the Dover Police Department responded to East Water Street for a single vehicle crash that was approximately 225 feet off the roadway at 4:17 a.m. The crash involved a red 2013 Jeep Wrangler. While investigating the crash, the driver and a passenger provided conflicting information about the crash, to include the number of persons in the vehicle at the time of the crash, ultimately telling officers there were only two people inside the car. Officers checked the surrounding area and did not locate any additional evidence or persons.

Both the driver (Luis Coello, 30) and the 41-year-old male passenger were both transported to Bayhealth Kent Campus for treatment of non-life threatening injuries from the crash.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the crash had actually occurred on June 21st at 11:21 p.m. The first call to police did not occur until 4:17 a.m., nearly a 5 hour delay.

A review of evidence obtained from the vehicle and surveillance footage from nearby businesses showed that the Jeep Wrangler was traveling eastbound on Water Street, approaching a sharp left curve (in front of Del-One Federal Credit Union). The Jeep did not brake and drove over the curb, traveled down an embankment, turning over multiple times. Evidence obtained from the vehicle shows that none of the three occupants were wearing seatbelts. It is believed that Valladares was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the Saint Jones River. Autopsy results show that Valladares’ had traumatic head injuries as a result of the crash.

During the 5-hours between the crash and the first notification to police, Valladares’ body moved a significant distance as the result of the river’s current. Valladares’ body was located on July 2nd by a group of kayakers, approximately 197 meters from where he likely entered the river.

At no point in the investigation did the driver or passenger of the vehicle advise police that Valladares was also in the vehicle.

During the initial crash investigation, Cuello (30) was charged with Driving Under the Influence and additional traffic offenses.

As a result of the investigation following the discovery of Valladares’ body, Cuello was also charged with Vehicular Homicide 2nd Degree. Cuello was arrested in Newark without incident and committed to SCI on a $7,000 secured bond.

A mugshot of Cuello was not available at the time of release. Cuello is a resident of Newark, DE.

If you wish to provide information on this case or other criminal activity, please 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 delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Dover Police Victim Services Unit is available to provide help and guidance.  You can contact the Victim Services Unit at 302-736-7134 or by email at: Diane.Glenn@cj.state.de.us

You can follow the Dover Police Department by clicking on:

Dover Police Website

Facebook

The Dover Police Department is proud to announce the launch of the Behavioral Health Unit.  After months of research, planning, and program development with the contracted vendor (Dover Behavioral Health), the Unit officially hit the streets of Dover on May 24^th with two Behavioral Health Clinicians partnered with two Dover Police Officers.  The teams work 12-hour shifts, on opposite days, to ensure 365-day service. 

After getting acclimated to the police department and the City of Dover, the Clinician and Officer teams have been responding to calls for service and initiating proactive support to individuals throughout the city.  The primary responsibility of the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) is to provide an opportunity for any person suffering from a mental health or substance abuse related issue, or both, the chance to be connected to services to help them.  The behavioral health specialists, working under the title of Clinical Field Partners, are supported and protected by Dover Officers.  They provide definitive care at initial contact when it is more likely the person needing help in that moment will accept it.

More often than not, the police are the first to respond to a disturbance or criminal incident that may be the result of a behavioral health related issue.  The BHU provides the department, and more importantly the person needing assistance, with the opportunity to be connected to necessary services without a criminal arrest.  Officers and their Clinical Field Partners will then follow-up with those contacted, as necessary, to ensure they are on the right path to improvement or recovery. 

Patrolman First Class Michael Simpkiss, a four-year veteran, volunteered to take part in the program.  He is joined by Patrolman First Class Thomas Rivera, a six-year veteran of the Department and former Dover Police Cadet.  Both are full-time Community Policing Officers.  Their Clinical Field Partners are Watara Heath and Vasile Mihai Rus, both of whom work with the Dover Behavioral Health (DBH) System and competed for the assignment.  The Officers and Clinicians were formally introduced at a City Council Meeting on June 13^th.  

Chief Johnson would like to thank all of the individuals who came together to implement this project.  “The Criminal Justice Council facilitated the Grant application.  The State of Delaware provided additional program funds.  The University of Delaware offered the same support software they supplied to the New Castle County PD ‘Hero Help’ initiative.  Hero Help is a similar program and the New Castle County Officers were a great resource for us.  I wanted to make sure that our program was sustainable for the long haul and had the best chance for success.  In the end, great collaboration brought together great service providers to try and help some of our most at-risk members of the community.  I know that this will save lives and be another step towards a better Dover.”

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Incident Number: 50-22-21239

Date and Time: Sunday, July 10th, 2022 at 9:05 p.m.

Location: Target, 148 John Hunn Brown Road, Dover, DE

Contact: Dover Police Public Information Office
Sergeant Mark Hoffman Email: mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us

City of Dover Fire Marshals Office (Phil Lewis)
PLewis@dover.de.us

City of Dover Emergency Management (Kay Sass)
KSass@dover.de.us

Narrative:

The following release is being sent on behalf of the Dover Police Department, City of Dover Fire Department, City of Dover Fire Marshals Office, and City of Dover Emergency Management

The Dover Police Department and City of Dover Fire Marshals Office are investigating an arson that occurred inside of the Target store located at 148 John Hunn Brown Road. Multiple agencies responded to assist in suppressing the fire and ventilating the building, to include fire departments from the following regions: Dover, Little Creek, Leipsic, Camden-Wyoming, Dover Air Force Base, Hartly, Cheswold, South Bowers Beach, St. Francis EMS and Kent County Paramedics. The fire was under control and crews were able to leave the scene by 12:30am, July, 11. Citizen’s Hose Company (Smyrna) covered the City of Dover during the incident.

Evidence obtained at this point in the investigation has shown the fire was intentionally set in the linen section, near the center of the store. The store was quickly evacuated of customers and employees with no injuries reported. Preliminary damage estimates range between $3 – $4 million dollars in merchandise damage from the fire, smoke, and Estimated damages to the structure were not readily available.

If you wish to provide information on this case or other criminal activity, please 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 delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Dover Police Victim Services Unit is available to provide help and guidance.  You can contact the Victim Services Unit at 302-736-7134 or by email at: Diane.Glenn@cj.state.de.us

You can follow the Dover Police Department by clicking on:

Dover Police Website

Facebook

Twitter

The Dover Police Department has added a new and convenient option to pay city ordinance violations. Effective immediately, payments for city ordinance violations can be paid online through a secure website. The department will still accept traditional payments, which include by mail, in-person, and by phone. The online option allows users to pay fines quickly and without registering to create an account.

Customers can only use this system to pay for Dover City Ordinance violations. These violations are often related to parking violations, noise violations, false alarm calls, and other minor infractions that result in a fine. Customers CANNOT pay state traffic violations or criminal fines on this system.

For more information on how to pay a fine online or other forms of payments, please visit: PAY A FINE

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