Dagsboro, DE - Delaware State Police have arrested 62-year-old John Rickards of Dagsboro, Delaware, for multiple felony drug charges and receiving stolen property following a search warrant at a Dagsboro residence.

On October 10, 2024, members of the Sussex County Governor's Task Force and the Sussex County Drug Unit, executed a search warrant at a house on the 32000 block of Dupont Boulevard in Dagsboro. The search warrant was obtained following a three-month investigation of Rickards for a criminal nuisance property as well as the manufacturing and distribution of illegal narcotics. During the search warrant, detectives detained nine individuals who were located on the property, including Rickards.

A search of the property led to the discovery of the following items:

• Approximately 197.02 grams of marijuana
• Approximately 2.03 grams of cocaine
• Approximately 2.85 grams of methamphetamines
• Approximately 0.12 grams of crack cocaine
• Drug paraphernalia and digital scales
• $641 in suspected drug proceeds
• Stolen John Deere Gator UTV
• Several stolen power tools

After a search of the property, four of the nine individuals detained were arrested for misdemeanor offenses and capias warrants. The others were released without incident.

Rickards was taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $59,000 cash bond.

• Operating a Clandestine Laboratory (Felony)
• Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) - 3 counts
• Maintaining a Drug Property (Felony)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 1 (Felony)
• Receiving Stolen Property over $1,500 (Felony)
• Receiving Stolen Property under $1,500 - 3 counts
• Resisting Arrest
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - 3 counts
• Criminal Nuisance - Maintaining a Place for Unlawful Conduct

Source: Delaware State Police Press Release