NEWS

Incident Number:  50-26-9210

Date/Time: Friday, March 20th, 2026 at 4:33 p.m.

Location: 100 Block of S. New Street, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman   Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative: The Dover Police Department arrested Ahmeer Ledbetter (19), of Wilmington, on drug and weapons offenses on Friday, March 20th, 2026 at approximately 4:33 p.m. Officers from the Patrol Division were responding to a report of a subject armed with a gun in the 100 Block of South New Street and attempted to contact Ledbetter. Ledbetter fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by pursuing officers. Officers located a loaded .40 caliber handgun and 7.17 grams of heroin that Ledbetter discarded during the foot chase.

Ledbetter was committed to SCI on $183,000 cash bond on the following offenses:
-Possession of Deadly Weapon During Commission of Felony
-Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin
-Possession of Firearm/Ammo by Person Prohibited (2x)
-Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited (Drugs)
-Resisting Arrest
-Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon
-Tampering with Physical Evidence

Incident Number:  50-26-9093

Date/Time: Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

Location: Unit Block of S. New Street, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman   Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative: On March 19, 2026, at approximately 5:31 p.m., officers from the Dover Police Department were dispatched to the area of South New Street in reference to a reported shooting.

Upon arrival, officers began an investigation which revealed that two unknown black male suspects approached the area by walking eastbound through residential yards, crossing Queen Street, and entering a yard in the Unit Block of South New Street. At that time, a group of individuals was gathered in the area.

One of the suspects discharged a firearm, firing at least three rounds in the direction of the group. As a result, one male victim (32) sustained two gunshot wounds to the right thigh. The victim was transported to Bayhealth Hospital by a private citizen for treatment with non-life threatening injuries.

During the incident, a second victim was seated in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle across the street when a projectile struck the driver’s side rear window, causing damage. A third victim’s unoccupied vehicle, which was parked in a driveway in the Unit Block of South New Street, was also struck by gunfire, resulting in damage to the hood and grille of the vehicle.

Officers recovered multiple shell casings from the backyard of a residence in the Unit Block of South New Street.

Following the shooting, the suspects fled westbound on foot through residential yards, crossing back over Queen Street.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302) 736-7145. 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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Incident Number:  50-26-8960

Date/Time: Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 at 7:02 p.m.

Location: 200 Block of Northdown Drive, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman   Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative: The Dover Police Department arrested Marlon Martinez (19) on several weapons offenses. The Dover Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit and Delaware Probation and Parole made the arrest on Wednesday, March 18th at 7:02 p.m. in the 200 Block of Northdown Drive on a felony warrant previously issued for Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited. Martinez attempted to flee from officers on foot but was apprehended by pursuing officers.

After taking Martinez into custody, officers found a Country Arms RAS47 firearm concealed in his pants. That firearm was loaded with 7.62 caliber ammunition. Officers then obtained a search warrant for Martinez’ residence in the 200 Block of Northdown Drive. During this search warrant, officers located additional firearms and twelve different calibers of ammunition in the home.

Martinez was committed to SCI on a $107,000 cash bond on the following offenses:
-Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited
-Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited (12x)
-Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon
-Resisting Arrest
-Large Capacity Magazine

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Incident Number:  50-26-8596

Date/Time: Monday, March 16th 2026 at 5:59 A.M.

Location: M&N Smoke Shop, 1160 White Oak Road, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman   Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative: The Dover Police Department is investigating an early morning burglary at M&N Smoke Shop on White Oak Road. Officers responded to the area at approximately 5:59 A.M. for an alarm. Upon arrival officers observed that the front glass to the business had been shattered. Surveillance footage showed that three unknown suspects forced entry into the business and took an undetermined amount of merchandise from the business after damaging a display case.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302) 736-7145. 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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Incident/Complaint#:  50-26-8338

Date:  Friday, March 13th, 2026 at 5:32 p.m.

Location: 400 Block of Harmony Lane, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman   Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us

UPDATE: The Gold Alert for Eliseyah Morales has been cancelled after she was safely located on Sunday (March 15th) evening.

Original Narrative: The Dover Police Department has issued a Gold Alert for Eliseyah Morales(15), of Dover. Morales was last seen at approximately 5:32 p.m. in the 400 Block of Harmony Lane in Dover, DE. Attempts to contact or locate her have been unsuccessful, and there is a concern for her safety and well-being. Morales is described as a black female, 5″6″, 110 pounds. She was last seen wearing all black clothing, a leopard print bag, Jordan brand shoes, and long braided hair. Morales resides in the Dover, DE area. If you have any information on Morales’ whereabouts, please call 302-736-7111.

Incident/Complaint#:  50-26-8338

Date:  Friday, March 13th, 2026 at 5:32 p.m.

Location: 400 Block of Harmony Lane, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman   Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative: The Dover Police Department has issued a Gold Alert for Eliseyah Morales(15), of Dover. Morales was last seen at approximately 5:32 p.m. in the 400 Block of Harmony Lane in Dover, DE. Attempts to contact or locate her have been unsuccessful, and there is a concern for her safety and well-being. Morales is described as a black female, 5″6″, 110 pounds. She was last seen wearing all black clothing, a leopard print bag, Jordan brand shoes, and long braided hair. Morales resides in the Dover, DE area. If you have any information on Morales’ whereabouts, please call 302-736-7111.