(Newark, DE 19702) On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Officers with the New Castle County Division of Police were in the Salem Woods community conducting an investigation following complaints of dirt bikes and off-highway vehicles being operated illegally on public roadways and within parklands.
At approximately 5:00 p.m., Officers observed a green and black dirt bike traveling on Jaymar Boulevard. The operator was not wearing a helmet, and the dirt bike was not displaying a registration plate or lights.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop in a fully marked police vehicle. However, the operator refused to stop, fled the area, and committed multiple traffic violations while attempting to evade police.
Responding Officers were able to track the dirt bike and locate the operator at a residence on Diane Court. The operator, identified as 19-year-old John Charles, was taken into custody without incident.
John Charles was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with the following offenses:
- One felony count of Disregarding a Police Officer’s Signal
- One misdemeanor count of Failure to Have Required Insurance
- One violation of Operating an Unregistered Off-Highway Vehicle
- One violation of Operating an OHV Without a Helmet
- One violation of Operating an OHV in Violation of Traffic Control Devices
- One violation of Operating an OHV Without Required Lights
- One violation of Illegal Operation of an OHV
- One violation of OHV Operator Disobeying a Command to Stop
- One violation of No Motorcycle License
Charles was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on his own recognizance.
John Charles – 19