Yesterday, (September 6) at approximately 3:20 pm New Castle County Police Officers assigned to the Safe Streets Task Force witnessed a stolen SUV heading southbound on Route 9 in the area of I295. The stolen SUV was occupied by 2 people. Before officers could stop the SUV, it accelerated and turned off into the neighborhood of Collins Park.  Officers then lost sight of the SUV.

Officers were later notified that the SUV had left Collins Park and had turned southbound on Route 9.  According to witnesses, the SUV attempted to make a right hand turn onto Castle Hills Drive.  There, the SUV collided with an Artisan Water vehicle and continued into the neighborhood of Castle Hills.  The driver of the Artisan truck sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.    According to community members, the SUV eventually became disabled on Wardor Ave and the two occupants fled on foot.

Officers from New Castle City Police and New Castle County Police located the driver in the area of Moores Lane and he was taken into custody.

He was identified as Eliezer Valentin and transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released for non-specific, non-life threatening injuries.

Eliezer Valentin was charged with Felony Receiving Stolen Property over $1,500, Resisting Arrest (misdemeanor), Criminal Mischief, Reckless Driving, Fleeing the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident, Driving Without a Valid License, Failure to Signal Continuously Not < 300 feet or >1/2 Mile before Turning, Speeding in Excess of 25 MPH in a Residential District, and Driving on the Wrong Side of the Roadway.  He was subsequently transported to Howard Young Correctional Facility after failing to post $2500 secured bail.

The passenger of the SUV is unknown at this time but is believed to be a heavy set Hispanic male.

The New Castle County Police would like to thank the community for their involvement and assistance.

If you have any information pertaining to this investigation, please contact Officer Lytwynec at JKLytwynec@nccde.org  or New Castle County Police at (302) 573-2800. Citizens can also submit a tip via our website at http://www.nccpd.com. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or visit us on Facebook at New Castle County Police Department. Citizens who currently have the smartphone application are encouraged to use the “submit tip” tab to submit tips. Select a topic by using the “drop down” and complete the tip by “clicking” submit. The New Castle County Police Smartphone Application is free to download and available for all iPhone and Android smartphones.