Newark – On January 23, 2017 at about 8 A.M. Newark Police officers responded to the unit block of Prospect Ave. for the report of a home invasion robbery that had just occurred. Officers met the two victims at the house. One victim, Tyler Oppel, 23, was found bleeding from his head. The second victim a 20 year old male was not injured, according to Lt. Bill Hargrove, a spokesman with Newark Police Department.
Hargrove said that Oppel told police that he was home when three suspects entered his house through an unlocked door. The suspects confronted Oppel in the house and one of them struck Oppel in the head with a handgun, said Hargrove. After taking items from the second victim, all the suspects fled in an unknown direction, according to Hargrove.
Responding officers immediately noticed drug paraphernalia in the house and detected a strong order of burnt marijuana, said Hargrove. A search warrant was obtained for the residence, and officers located marijuana plants growing, several individually wrapped bags of suspected cocaine, scales, packaging material and US currency, said Hargrove. All the items were seized and Oppel was arrested for maintaining a drug property and other related charges.
Oppel was taken to the Christiana Emergency Room to be treated for his injuries. After being treated, Oppel was arraigned and released on $7,500 unsecured bond.
On January 25, 2017 detectives located Jason Mackey, 39, in the area of South College Ave and Welsh Tract Road after learning he may have been involved in the initial robbery. After conducting a car stop of Mackey’s vehicle officers located drugs and drug dealing paraphernalia in the car, said Hargrove. Mackey was arrested for possession of these items. Hargrove said that Mackey was arraigned and held in lieu of $40,000 secured bond and his involvement in the robbery is still under investigation
Hargrove said that a second suspect, Elijah Stevens, 23, was connected to the alleged robbery through mutual acquaintances. On January 25, 2017 the Newark / Middletown Police Regional SWAT team served a search warrant at Stevens house located in 1200 block of Terra Hill Drive, Wilmington, DE. Stevens was charged with multiple charges related to the robbery. Stevens was arraigned and held in lieu of $88,501 secured bond.
This investigation is ongoing and detectives are seeking information on the third suspect.
Anyone with additional information on this incident should contact Detective James Skinner, 302-366-7100 x3135, or [email protected]
Image Credits: Newark Police