(Newark, De 19711) On March 31, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Phyllis Drive, in the community of Newkirk Estates regarding a physical altercation.
When the officers arrived, they observed the suspect, 30-year-old Austyn Wehry in a physical altercation outside with a 29-year-old female. Austyn Wehry then fled into his residence, when the Officer heard gunshots coming from inside the residence.
Officers then began interviewing family members, when they learned that Austyn Wehry had ingested an unknown edible substance, which caused him to have an altered mental status and become physically aggressive towards family members. Officers were then told that remaining inside the residence was a juvenile family member and before the police arrived, Austyn Wehry was also involved in a physical altercation with a 59-year-old female.
During this incident, a shelter-in-place order was given to the neighborhood via a Reverse 911 as Austyn Wehry barricaded himself inside the residence.
The New Castle County Division of Police then activated their Crisis Management Group, which then responded to the scene.
At approximately 8:50 p.m., the juvenile was able to exit the residence safely and was unharmed.
Austyn Wehry was then taken into custody at approximately 11:05 p.m., and then transported to the New Castle County Police headquarters, and was charged with the following crimes:
- Three felony counts of Reckless endangering first degree.
- One felony count of Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
- One felony count of Kidnapping second degree
- One felony count of Criminal solicitation first degree
- Two misdemeanor counts of offensive touching.
Austyn Wehry was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to pay $41,000.00 cash bail.
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