Bear – New Castle County Police Arrest 25-year-old Bear man after stealing and wrecking a patrol vehicle, according to M/Cpl. Michel Eckerd.
Eckerd said on Tuesday, May 1, at 11:14 p.m. patrol officers from the New Castle County Police were dispatched to the unit block of Healy Court in the community of Red Lion Chase to assist EMS crews with a subject in need of medical attention. Before the officers arrived on scene, they learned that the subject, 25-year-old, Marcus Benson fled the residence in such a manner that it caused a concern for his welfare.
Later at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2, morning a patrol officer observed a subject on the southbound lanes of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Route 1 Bridge who matched the description of Marcus Benson.
The officer pulled to the shoulder and stopped his fully marked police Tahoe. The officer then got out and lost sight of the subject. With regard to the high speed traffic on the bridge the officer cautiously searched the sides of the bridge for the subject. While the officer was searching the span of the bridge, Marcus Benson was able to enter the police vehicle without being seen, according to Eckerd. He then sped off southbound on Route 1 and lost control of the vehicle in the area of the Biddle Toll Plaza, where he crashed into a pole, according to Eckerd.
Marcus Benson was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital where he was admitted. He was charged with felony Theft of a Motor Vehicle, felony, Disregard a Police Officers Signal, misdemeanor Malicious Mischief by a Motor Vehicle, misdemeanor Reckless Driving and an Unsafe Speed violation. An arraignment is pending.