LAUREL POLICE ARREST PAIR OF TEENS AND RECOVER FIREARM
Laurel, DE - On June 10, 2024 at approximately 1:00 am, Laurel Police Officers were conducting a property check of the Hollybrook Farms Apartment Complex on Pasture Lane in Laurel, Delaware. While patrolling the area, an officer observed two subjects on bicycles who had been loitering in the breezeways of multiple buildings and knocking on windows of an occupied apartment.
When the officer attempted to make contact with the subjects, they quickly mounted bicycles and rode away toward the front of the complex. Additional officers were already in the area, and stopped both subjects between the 300 and 400 buildings.
The subjects were both identified as 14-year-old males from Laurel, DE, and known to the Laurel Police Department from prior criminal investigations.
One of the subjects had also been involved in an April 2024 stolen vehicle pursuit that with his felony criminal case still pending. Due to their age and time of night, the officers detained the subjects for violating the town curfew.
During a subsequent search, one of the subjects was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm concealed on his person. The firearm was found to have an obliterated serial number. The other subject was found to be in possession of marijuana.
The subjects were transported to the Laurel Police Department for processing. The subject that was in possession of the firearm, who did not reside in Hollybrook Apartments, was charged with the following crimes:
-Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon A Firearm (Class D Felony)
-Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited (Class D Felony)
-Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited (Class D Felony)
-Possession of Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number (Class D Felony)
-Trespassing 3rd Degree (Violation)
He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed into the custody of the Stevenson House Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of $10,050 secured bail.
The second subject, who did reside in Hollybrook Apartments, was charged with the following crimes:
-Possession of Marijuana Under 18 (Misdemeanor)
-Loitering (Violation)
He was also arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released on his own recognizance to a parent.
In addition to the above charges, the parents of both children were issued criminal summonses for the Laurel Town Curfew Ordinance, LA 0069004b, "Parent Allows by Inefficient Control Juvenile to Remain in Public Place After Curfew". While the ordinance has been active since 1998, the Laurel Town Council amended the age and time restrictions in response to the recent increase in Laurel's juvenile-related violent crime. This is the first case where officers were able to use the ordinance to take a proactive approach against this type of dangerous criminal behavior.
This is an on-going investigation. If you or someone you know has information related to this case or other criminal activity, please contact the Laurel Police Department at 302-875-2244 or by direct message to this page. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Delaware Crime Stoppers by calling 800-847-3333 or texting "KEYWORD" followed by your information to CRIMES (274637). Tips submitted to Crime Stoppers that lead to an arrest are potentially eligible for a cash reward.
When the officer attempted to make contact with the subjects, they quickly mounted bicycles and rode away toward the front of the complex. Additional officers were already in the area, and stopped both subjects between the 300 and 400 buildings.
The subjects were both identified as 14-year-old males from Laurel, DE, and known to the Laurel Police Department from prior criminal investigations.
One of the subjects had also been involved in an April 2024 stolen vehicle pursuit that with his felony criminal case still pending. Due to their age and time of night, the officers detained the subjects for violating the town curfew.
During a subsequent search, one of the subjects was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm concealed on his person. The firearm was found to have an obliterated serial number. The other subject was found to be in possession of marijuana.
The subjects were transported to the Laurel Police Department for processing. The subject that was in possession of the firearm, who did not reside in Hollybrook Apartments, was charged with the following crimes:
-Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon A Firearm (Class D Felony)
-Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited (Class D Felony)
-Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited (Class D Felony)
-Possession of Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number (Class D Felony)
-Trespassing 3rd Degree (Violation)
He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed into the custody of the Stevenson House Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of $10,050 secured bail.
The second subject, who did reside in Hollybrook Apartments, was charged with the following crimes:
-Possession of Marijuana Under 18 (Misdemeanor)
-Loitering (Violation)
He was also arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released on his own recognizance to a parent.
In addition to the above charges, the parents of both children were issued criminal summonses for the Laurel Town Curfew Ordinance, LA 0069004b, "Parent Allows by Inefficient Control Juvenile to Remain in Public Place After Curfew". While the ordinance has been active since 1998, the Laurel Town Council amended the age and time restrictions in response to the recent increase in Laurel's juvenile-related violent crime. This is the first case where officers were able to use the ordinance to take a proactive approach against this type of dangerous criminal behavior.
This is an on-going investigation. If you or someone you know has information related to this case or other criminal activity, please contact the Laurel Police Department at 302-875-2244 or by direct message to this page. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Delaware Crime Stoppers by calling 800-847-3333 or texting "KEYWORD" followed by your information to CRIMES (274637). Tips submitted to Crime Stoppers that lead to an arrest are potentially eligible for a cash reward.
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