Wilmington – The Delaware State Police have arrested a Wilmington man and charged him in connection with the multiple robberies he committed over the past few days, according to Director of Public Information Sergeant Richard D. Bratz.
Bratz said that on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at approximately 5:50 p.m. as the clerks, at Teds Tailors & Cleaners located at 2606 Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington, were preparing to close the business a suspect entered through the front door and displayed a knife demanding money.
The clerks complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of money to him said Bratz. The suspect then fled. Troopers conducted an area canvas of the surrounding businesses and area neighborhoods near South Woodward Avenue towards Marion Avenue. The suspect was not located and the clerks were not injured.
Bratz said that a second incident occurred on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at approximately 12:02 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 3215 Old Capitol Trail, Wilmington. A male suspect approached the counter and implied he had a firearm as he confronted the bank teller, said Bratz. The suspect demanded money and the teller walked away to report the incident and when she returned the suspect fled in an unknown direction, according to Bratz.
A third incident occurred at approximately 12:10 p.m. Saturday, January 21, 2017 at the Toni Cleaners located at 1606 Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington, according to Bratz. Troopers were called to that location for a report of a robbery, said Bratz. The suspect entered the store, approached two clerks and displayed a knife while demanding money from the cash registers., Said Bratz. The victims complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of money to him. Bratz said that the suspect then fled the scene on foot through the front door along Kirkwood Highway and then walked westbound to Forrest Avenue. The two clerks were not injured. The suspect was seen on 2nd Avenue heading towards Maple Avenue, said Bratz.
The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 40-50 years old, wearing a white hat, green jacket, gray shirt underneath, dark blue jeans and black shoes.
Following his flight from Toni Cleaners, the suspect was spotted on foot in the area of Forest Avenue, according to Bratz. A suspect description was broadcast and shortly thereafter an officer from the Elsmere Police Department spotted a subject matching the suspect description on foot approximately ½ mile west of Toni Cleaners, in the area of South Clifton Avenue and Marion Avenue.
After contact was made with the suspect, troopers responded to the location and revealed he was in possession of evidence of the robbery and was positively identified as Michael E. Tielleman, 50 of Wilmington, said Bratz. Troopers continued to canvas the area and located items discarded by the suspect after he fled the scene.
The suspect, Michael E. Tielleman was transported to Troop 2 where the Delaware State Police Robbery Unit detectives were able link him to the robberies. State Police detectives have obtained warrants charging Michael E. Tielleman with three counts of Robbery 1st Degree, three counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony and Attempted Robbery 1st Degree.
Image Credits: Delaware State Police