Troopers:11-Year-Old ODs On Heroin, Friends Father Arrested, Released On Unsecured Bond

Laurel- The Delaware State Police have arrested 31-year-old Gilbert M. Dickerson on drug and related charges after a juvenile accidentally overdosed on heroin, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.

Jaffe said the investigation began on October 28, 2019, at approximately 9:12 p.m., when Troopers were dispatched to a residence located in the 2700 block of Pot of Gold Circle, Rainbow, Trailer Park, Millsboro, in reference to an 11-year-old victim in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, Troopers located several small bags, containing heroin in the victim’s pocket. In total, 30 small bags of heroin were collected from the scene, said Jaffe. The victim was transported to the AI DuPont Children’s Hospital. The child’s condition was not immediately available Saturday.

Further investigation revealed that the victim had obtained the heroin on October 28, 2019, from a friend at Laurel Elementary School. It was learned that the friend was driven to school by their stepmother, in a vehicle owned by their father, Gilbert Dickerson, according to Jaffe. During the ride to school, the friend located an Altoids container, in which heroin was concealed, according to Jaffe. Not knowing it contained heroin the friend opened the container and gave the bags to the victim, once at school.

Laurel Elementary personnel were not aware that the exchange had occurred on school property. Once school officials were notified by law enforcement, they cooperated fully and helped to insure this event was an isolated incident, said Jaffe.

On October 30, 2019, members of the Sussex Drug Unit (SDU), Sussex Governor’s Task Force (GTF), and the Laurel Police Department responded to Dickerson’s residence in Little Creek Apartments, Laurel and conducted a search. During the course of the search, approximately 65 bags (.455 grams) of heroin were located. Also present in the residence at this time were three juvenile children, ages 13, 12, and 6.

Dickerson was taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 4 where he was charged with the following:

Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance
Reckless Endanger First Degree (2 counts)
Unlawfully Dealing With a Child Permits

Dickerson was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and released on $10,500.00 unsecured bond.

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