Dover Teen Arrested Following Multiple Car Accidents in Stolen Car

Incident Number:  50-24-9277

Date/Time: Sunday, March 17th, 2024 at 4:47 p.m.

Location: Verizon, 1045 North DuPont Highway Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Master Corporal Ryan Schmid   Email: [email protected]

Narrative: The Dover Police Department has arrested a 17-year-old Hispanic male, of Dover, for stealing a car following multiple car accidents early Sunday evening. The investigation began at 4:47 p.m., when Dover Police was called to the area of Verizon, 1045 North DuPont Highway Dover, DE for the report of a vehicle collision involving several vehicles and one of the vehicles, a 2012 Dodge Ram, was overturned in the parking lot. Upon arrival, Officers contacted the driver of the Dodge Ram, who was identified as the 17-year-old from Dover. Through the investigation, it was determined that the 17-year-old stole the Dodge Ram from the unit Block of Commerce Way, and proceeded to drive the vehicle throughout the City of Dover. At some point prior to the accident at Verizon, the 17-year-old was in the Town Pointe development and got into another accident involving a parked car in the 300 block of MacArthur Drive. The 17-year-old fled from this scene and committed several traffic violations, ultimately causing the collision at Verizon, which resulted in the building being damaged, vehicles being damaged and the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident being transported to an area hospital for injuries sustained as a result of the collision. Officers attempted to take the 17-year-old into custody and he resisted arrested however he was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

The 17-year-old was transported to Dover Police where he was charged with the following offenses and turned over to his guardian:
-Theft of a Motor Vehicle
-Resisting Arrest
-Leaving the Scene of a Property Collision
-Reckless Driving
-Driving Without a Valid License
-Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device
-Vehicular Assault Third Degree
-Criminal Trespass Third Degree

The 17-year-old is presumed innocent until proven guilty.