Teens arrested in robbery attempt

Dover Police arrested two teenage boys after they allegedly tried to rob the employees of a local restaurant over the weekend.

The attempt took place at 1:45 a.m. Sunday, at the Wendy’s restaurant on Webb’s Lane, said police spokesman Lt. James Hosfelt.

The employees had closed for the night and were leaving when three people rushed the door and forced them back inside, Hosfelt said. The three took out handguns and demanded money but while they were doing so another employee slipped out the back door and called 911.

The three suspect then fled without obtaining any money, but two were caught a short distance away by patrol units responding to the emergency call.

Police arrested Christopher Moore, 14, of the 200 block of Webbs Lane, and Kashwuan Bratcher, 15, of the 500 block of Walnut Shade Road and charged them with attempted robbery, wearing a disguise during a felony, aggravated menacing and second-degree conspiracy.

They were released on $5,500 secured bond.

Police are continuing their search for the third suspect.

19-year-old faces armed robbery charges

A 19-year-old Dover man was arrested last week in connection with a pair of attempted armed robberies that occurred late night April 26 and early morning April 27.

The first occurred at approximately 10 p.m. when two people entered the EZ Check Store on College Road. One took out a handgun and demanded money, said Lt. James Hosfelt, spokesman for the Dover Police Department.

When the cashier was slow to respond, Hosfelt said the man fired one round into the countertop before the pair fled without obtaining any money.

The second incident occurred approximately three hours later when Hosfelt said two people pulled alongside a car at the intersection of Pat Lynn and Woodcrest drives, pointed a handgun at a man and demanded money. The victim got away, and the suspects did not get any money, Hosfelt said.

As a result of the investigation into the attempted robberies, police arrested Antwaun Campbell, 19, of Norway Drive, and charged him with two counts each of first-degree attempted robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, second-degree conspiracy and other charges. He was committed to the Delaware Correctional Center in default of $140,500 secured bond.

Police continue to search for the second person.

Kirkwood crowd nets drug arrest

Dover Police last week arrested a man in connection with drug charges after responding to a call of a large crowd gathered in the downtown area.

The incident occurred at 12:22 a.m. April 28, at the intersection of Kirkwood and Reed streets, said department spokesman Lt. Paul Bernat.

After the crowd dispersed, one man, identified as Kevin Batson, 30, of the unit block of Kirkwood Street, refused to leave. Batson was arrested for loitering, and was found to be carrying 17 baggies of marijuana in his pockets, Bernat said.

Batson was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana within 300 feet of a church and other charges. He was released on $2,500 unsecured bond.

Boy, 12, faces rape charges

Dover Police have arrested a 12-year-old boy for allegedly raping a 4-year-old girl outside the Whatcoat Apartments.

The incident occurred April 24, said department spokesman Lt. James Hosfelt.

The girl’s uncle found her partially disrobed, lying on the ground next to the apartment building where they live, Hosfelt said. As he approached, Hosfelt said the uncle saw a boy running away from the scene.

The following day, officers arrested Tyreen Williams, 12, also of the Whatcoat Apartments, and charged him with two counts of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree rape.

He was arraigned at the Kent County Family Court and committed to the William M. Stevenson Detention Center in Milford in default of $20,000 secured bond.

Dover police investigate burglaries

Dover Police are  investigating a pair of recent burglaries.

The first took place April 30 when someone entered a home in the 100 block of Morris Drive and took money before fleeing, said Lt. James Hosfelt, spokesman for the Dover Police Department.

The second occurred May 2 when someone entered a home in the 700 block of Bicentennial Boulevard and removed various pieces of jewelry valued at $2,000.

Anyone with information on either crime is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 736-7111.

Dover man charged in March robberies

Dover Police on Friday arrested a local man in connection with an armed robbery and an armed robbery attempt two months ago.

Phillip G. Nelson, 29, of the 100 block of Palmer Drive, was taken into custody May 2, said police spokesman Lt. James Hosfelt.

Both incidents occurred March 12, the first at the Shore Stop convenience store in the 1300 block of Forrest Avenue, Hosfelt said. Two men came into the store, one showed a gun, and both fled after obtaining money from the cash register.

The second occurred at the Kent Liquor Mart in the 100 block of North DuPont Highway, when a man came in, showed a handgun and demanded money. The suspect fled, however, when the clerk activated the store alarm.

Detectives developed Nelson as a suspect during their investigation, Hosfelt said.

Nelson has been charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree attempted robbery, and two counts each of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony and second-degree conspiracy.

He has been jailed in default of a $48,000 secured bond.

Hosfelt said detectives are continuing their efforts to identify the second man in the Shore Stop robbery.

Philadelphia trio face drug charges

Members of the Governor’s Task Force last week arrested three Philadelphia residents on drug charges following a traffic stop on Route 13 near Harrington.

The incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. when officers noticed a car driving below the posted speed limit, said Cpl. John W. Barnett of the Delaware State Police. No record of the car’s license plate was found during a computer check, he said.

A search of the vehicle turned up 18 grams of packaged heroin, 6.2 grams of marijuana, and $919 in cash. The cash and vehicle were seized by police.

Police arrested Acy C. Wynn IV, 19, Khayree Gay, 24, and Lashekaha Guy, 18, charging them with trafficking heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, maintaining a vehicle for keeping a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Wynn also faced a number of traffic charges while Gay had active warrants from the Philadelphia Police Department for assault.

All were jailed in Delaware in default of secured bonds.

Four arrested for tire dumping

Officers with the state Fish and Wildlife department last Monday arrested four persons after they allegedly dumped tires near a wetland migration site.

The incident occurred April 28, on Lewis Drive, east of Dover, said department spokesman Sgt. Gregory Rhodes. Officers spotted a vehicle on a road shoulder with several tires in the back and others on the ground nearby. The vehicle left as agents arrived, and officers noticed the vehicle no longer had any tires in the back and that a larger pile was on the ground near where it had been parked.

Peggy Vilone, 21, of Camden, Bradley Stratton, 18, of Dover, Jacob Ramano, 21, of Dover and juvenile whose name was not released were arrested, Rhodes said. They were charged with littering, dumping solid waste and conspiracy.

All are awaiting trial in Justice of the Peace Court No. 7 in Dover, he said.

Man pleads guilty to stealing crabs

A Dover man was fined last week after pleading guilty to stealing crabs from pots set out in Sussex County.

David R. Whitehair, 39, of the 3000 block of Forrest Avenue, was arrested April 23 after officers received a complaint about tampered crab pots, said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of the state Fish and Wildlife department. Their investigation turned up a boat that had gone aground on a mud flat that matched the description given by the crab pot owner, Rhodes said. Officers later located a vehicle belonging to the boat’s owner parked at the Lewes public boat ramp.

Whitehair pled guilty to charged of crab pot tampering in Justice of the Peace Court No. 3 in Georgetown, and was ordered to pay $226.50. He was then released.