FOUR JUVENILES ARRESTED FOLLOWING CRASH IN STOLEN VEHICLE

Laurel, DE - On April 22, 2024, at approximately 8:24 a.m., Officers from the Laurel Police Department were dispatched to the Little Creek Apartments for a report of a stolen vehicle.  The victim informed police that sometime overnight, her vehicle, a 2015 Kia Soul, was stolen.

The Laurel Police Department launched an investigation, and a lookout was issued to neighboring law enforcement agencies. Officers obtained surveillance video of the theft and determined that the vehicle was removed from the apartment complex at approximately 2:15 a.m. 

On April 23, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m., an officer from the Laurel Police Department was on patrol and observed the stolen Kia Soul traveling on W 6^th Street in Laurel, Delaware. Being aware of the BOLO from the prior shift, the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. 

The vehicle began fleeing recklessly toward Janosik Park. It attempted to make a sharp turn at a high rate of speed, struck a curb, and rolled into the Laurel Historical Society's grass lawn at Cooper Street and Willow Street. 

Four subjects were occupying the vehicle at the time of the collision. With assistance from responding officers, they were able to exit the rear window. 

All occupants were transported to an area hospital for a precautionary evaluation and discharged into police custody. 

The vehicle's occupants were identified as a 14-year-old male and 16-year-old female from Seaford, DE, a 13-year-old male from Laurel, DE, and a 16-year-old male from Hockessin, DE. 

All four were charged with the following initial charges while the case is still being investigated for possible further charging in the future:

-Receiving Stolen Property Over $1500 (Class G Felony)

-Conspiracy Second Degree (Class G Felony)

In addition to the above charges, the 13-year-old male was found to have an active warrant out of a neighboring agency, and the female defendant had an active capias out of the Sussex County Family Court. The 16-year-old male was found to be a reported runaway by the New Castle County Police Department. 

Three of the defendants were released to legal guardians on their own recognizance, pending a future appearance in the Sussex County Family Court. The 16-year-old male from Hockessin, DE, was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court with a guardian, and committed into the custody of Stevenson House Juvenile Detention Facility due to multiple aggravating factors in the defendant's case.

The issuance of a warrant for the arrest of a subject is merely a showing of probable cause by the investigating agency related to the above incident. The subject, once arrested, is considered to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.