(New Castle, DE 19720) Last Monday (Jan 10), at approximately 7:40 p.m., patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to Jay Drive in the community of Chelsea Estates, New Castle for an occupied burglary.
When the officers arrived, they learned from the 21-year-old male victim that he was in the residence and heard a noise downstairs. He went downstairs and saw two black male subjects knocking on his door. When he opened the door one subject pointed a gun at him and a second subject displayed a knife. They forced him back into his residence and made him sit on his couch. The subjects then struck the victim on the head and stole multiple items from his residence.
Area video surveillance showed the suspects arriving in a red Jeep Wrangler.
Detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police Criminal Investigations Unit were then contacted and assumed the investigation.
Yesterday (Jan 12), at approximately 5:30 am a second call for a burglary in progress came from the same residence. This time witnesses reported that they heard banging on the door and when they looked out, they saw a red Jeep drive away.
Area surveillance showed the two subjects approach the victim’s residence and one of them kicked the door. The red jeep is again observed driving away.
The detectives were able to determine that the red Jeep was being driven by 20-year-old Christopher Robinson. The investigation also revealed that Robinson is a student at the University of Delaware and resides on the unit block of Scholar Drive. Surveillance video of that area showed two black males matching the earlier description carrying in stolen items.
A search warrant was authored and executed by members of the New Castle County Division of Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team and officers from the University of Delaware Police Department.
Inside the residence, Robinson was apprehended as was the second suspect, 20-year-old Desmond Thompson. The stolen items from the Jay Drive residence were recovered. Illegal drugs and a handgun were also seized.
Detectives determined that Thompson is not a student at the University but a guest of Robinson.
Both suspects were transported to headquarters, charged, and arraigned.
Robinson was charged with one count of felony Robbery 1st degree, one count of felony Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, one count of felony Home Invasion, one count of felony Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Firearm Prohibited with a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Theft Greater than $1500, one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance Tier 1 Quantity, one count of felony Conspiracy 2nd degree, one count of misdemeanor Theft Under $1500 and one count of misdemeanor Offensive Touching. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $161,600 cash bail.
Thompson was charged with one count of felony Robbery 1st degree, one count of felony Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, one count of felony Home Invasion, one count of felony Theft Greater than $1500, one count of felony Conspiracy 2nd degree, and one count of misdemeanor Theft Under $1500. He was also arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $151,100 cash bail.
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