05.05.25
by

SUSPECT CAUGHT HIDING UNDER TRAMPOLINE AFTER FLEEING IN STOLEN CAR

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, at approximately 5:22 p.m., a Detective from the New Castle County Division of Police Mobile Enforcement Team observed a silver Kia Optima traveling near Bacon Avenue and Route 13 in New Castle. A registration check revealed that the vehicle had an invalid tag. When the Detective tried to initiate a traffic stop, the driver, later identified as 19-year-old Antoine Crawley, sped away at a high rate of speed.

Delaware State Police Aviation Unit Trooper 4, already patrolling nearby, quickly located the fleeing vehicle and tracked it to the 1000 block of River Road in Wilmington. There, Crawley abandoned the Kia Optima and ran into the backyard of a nearby residence.

Responding officers quickly set up a perimeter and successfully located Crawley, hiding under a trampoline, where he was taken into custody.

The silver Kia Optima was confirmed to have been reported stolen from the City of Wilmington on April 28, 2025. Further investigation revealed Crawley was also wanted by the New Castle County Division of Police for a separate vehicle theft that occurred earlier in April.

Antoine Crawley was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with the following offenses:

  • Two felony counts of receiving stolen property over $1500
  • Two felony counts of disregarding a police officer’s signal
  • One felony count of possession of burglary tools
  • One felony count of possession of burglary tools involving disabling security systems
  • One felony count of theft of a motor vehicle
  • Two misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest.
  • Two misdemeanor counts of driving without a valid license
  • One misdemeanor count of  reckless driving 90 MPH or greater
  • One misdemeanor count of  theft under $1500
  • Two violations of failure to stop at a red light
  • One violation of the display of the license plate
  • One violation of improper lane change
  • One violation of drive in the proper lane
  • One violation of failure to have lights on when required
  • One violation of careless driving
  • One violation of improper backing

Antoine Crawley was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $ 19,500.00 cash bail.

Antoine Crawley-19