Kent/Sussex County – Delaware State Police say that troopers have arrested four and are seeking the location of a fifth for their involvement in burglaries committed in Kent and Sussex County as well as an attempted robbery near Milford.
Detectives began investigating a series of burglaries around the beginning of July when the suspects would enter area businesses and remove chainsaws and money. The following outlines the locations of the burglaries and items stolen:
- July 5, 2016 at approximately 12:12 a.m. – Burke Equipment, 11196 East Snake Road, Delmar, Delaware – 6 chainsaws and one concrete saw. The total value of the merchandise was over $2,400.00. Damage to perimeter fencing valued at approximately $1,500.00.
- July 5, 2016 at approximately 4:30 a.m. – Tractor Supply, 4089 South DuPont Highway, Dover – Nothing was stolen although damage was estimated at approximately $200.00 to a fence.
- July 8, 2016 at approximately 2:29 a.m. – Binkley and Hurst, 22367 Sussex Highway, Seaford – A window was damaged ($500.00) and a safe that contained a small amount of U.S. currency was removed from the business.
- July 8, 2016 at approximately 4:14 a.m. – Sunburst Rentals, 36412 Sussex Highway, Delmar, Delaware – Suspects utilized a forklift to pry open a roll-up door causing approximately $1,500.00 damage and then removed a chainsaw valued over $240.00.
- July 11, 2016 at approximately 1:49 a.m. – Barton’s Landscaping, 20689 Sussex Highway, Seaford – Nothing was stolen although damage was estimated at approximately $1,000.00 to a fence and video surveillance camera.
- July 11, 2016 at approximately 3:10 a.m. – Burke Equipment, 54 Andrews Lake Road, Felton – 11 chainsaws were removed with a total value of over $4,600.00 along with approximately $1,000.00 damage to a fence and glass door.
In each of the burglaries, the suspects would cut a portion of perimeter fencing before forcibly entering the businesses, police said. The brand of chainsaw that was stolen in each case was primarily Stihl.
According to police on July 14, 2016, detectives in Kent and Sussex County were contacted by the Caln Township Police Department (Pennsylvania) making them aware of subjects allegedly selling a large number of Stihl chainsaws to a pawn shop in Thorndale, Pennsylvania. Detectives were able to identify two of the subjects as Mightys E. Gibbs, 24 of Harrington, and Tavon G. Johnson, 22 of Felton, after their information was given to the pawn shop in order to make the transaction, police said. Officials said that all of the chainsaws pawned matched the serial numbers of the ones stolen from the various businesses in Delaware and detectives continued to track the equipment as it had already been sold to various unsuspecting buyers throughout the U.S.
Meanwhile, Troopers and Probation Officers assigned to the Kent County Governor’s Task Force were actively patrolling north of Milford, Monday July 18, 2016 around 10:17 p.m., when a black Honda Accord was observed parked in the roadway on Big Stone Beach Road south of New Warf Road with only its parking light on. police say that when the task force unit attempted to pull behind the vehicle to check on the occupants, the car turned the headlights on and began to pull away. The trooper then activated the emergency equipment in the patrol car to perform a traffic stop. The Accord continued approximately quarter mile away from where it was originally observed before finally coming to a stop. Prior to the Honda coming to a full stop, two male rear seat passengers fled from the vehicle into a wooded area nearby, police said.
Authorities say that the front seat passenger, Tavon Johnson, was immediately contacted and placed in custody without incident and that a computer check revealed Johnson had an active capias out of Kent County Court of Common Pleas for Violation of Probation. The operator, who police identified as Jaydenn D. Clough, 20 of Smyrna, was also placed in custody without incident. A search of the vehicle revealed masks and gloves along with a 12 gauge shotgun which would be consistent with someone preparing to conduct a robbery, according to police. Police say that through the investigation, it was determined that the subjects had parked along the roadside and were preparing to commit a robbery of the Shore Stop located at 432 Bay Road, Milford, which was just in eyesight of where they had been parked.
In the early morning of Tuesday July 19, 2016 criminal and GTF detectives said they were able to link all of the incidents together and obtain warrants for the arrests of Tavon Johnson, Jaydenn Clough, Mightys Gibbs, as well as gather information on the other two suspects that fled from the traffic stop in Milford. Those two were identified as Quadir Bryant, 24 of Felton and Robert Mannings III, 24 of Viola, police said.
Jaydenn Clough and Tavon Johnson were transported back to Troop 3 after the stop and charged with Attempted Robbery 1st, Attempted Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 2nd, and Drug Paraphernalia. Johnson was additionally charged in this case with Attempted Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and Attempted Wearing of a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony. Clough was released on $22,000.00 unsecured bond after being arraigned at JP2.
Tavon Johnson was committed to James T. Vaughn after failing to post $50,100.00 cash bond on the Robbery charges as well as the Violation of Probation. He was charged separately with three counts of Burglary 3rd, three counts of Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, three counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, three counts of Conspiracy 2nd, three counts of Theft, three counts of Criminal Mischief, Attempted Theft, and Criminal Trespass 2nd. He was given an additional $42,700.00 secured bond on those crimes.
On Monday July 25, Quadir Bryant was taken into custody by detectives from Troop 4 and charged with Attempted Robbery 1st, Attempted Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Attempted Wearing of a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony five counts of Burglary 3rd, three counts of Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, three counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, six counts of Conspiracy 2nd, four counts of Theft, five counts of Criminal Mischief, Attempted Theft, Criminal Trespass 2nd, and Resisting Arrest. He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institute on $208,000.00 cash bond.
Robert Mannings III was arrested on Tuesday July 26, 2016 by U.S. Marshall’s Task Force and Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit and charged with Attempted Robbery 1st, Attempted Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Attempted Wearing of a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony five counts of Burglary 3rd, three counts of Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, three counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, six counts of Conspiracy 2nd, four counts of Theft, five counts of Criminal Mischief, Attempted Theft, and Criminal Trespass 2nd, and Resisting Arrest. He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $83,000.00 secured bond.
Mightys Gibbs is still wanted for Attempted Robbery 1st, Attempted Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Attempted Wearing of a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony five counts of Burglary 3rd, three counts of Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, three counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, six counts of Conspiracy 2nd, four counts of Theft, five counts of Criminal Mischief, Attempted Theft, and Criminal Trespass 2nd, and Resisting Arrest.
If anyone has any information in reference to the whereabouts of Mightys Gibbs they are asked to contact Detective D. Blomquist at 302-698-8426. Information may also be provided by callingDelaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet atwww.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”
Image Credits: Delaware State Police