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WELFARE CHECK LEADS TO FELONY DRUG ARREST
Laurel, DE - On November 1, 2023, at approximately 1:05 a.m., a Laurel Police Department officer was on patrol in the area of Royal Farms, which is located at 10722 Georgetown Road in Laurel, Delaware. While at this location, the officer conducted a welfare check of a subject who was unconscious in a vehicle.
While making contact with the subject, probable cause was established and a search of the subject and his vehicle was conducted.
As a result of the search, officers located crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in addition to paraphernalia related to the sales of illicit drugs.
The subject was identified as Purnell Collins (56 years of age) of Seaford, DE. Collins was also found to be currently serving a Level 3 Probation Sentence as the result of a 2022 Tier 2 Drug Dealing Conviction.
As a result of this investigation, Collins was charged by the Laurel Police Department with the following crimes:
- Possession with Intent to Deliver Tier 3 Quantity Crack Cocaine (Class B Felony)
- Possession of Controlled Substance x2 (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Possession of Marijuana Other Than Personal Use (Misdemeanor)
Collins was taken to the Justice of the Peace Court 3 for arraignment and committed into the custody of the Department of Corrections in lieu of $50,400 cash-only bail.
