The Delaware Department of Justice has ruled the death of burglary suspect, Richard M. Talbot, 32 of Milton, an accident.
Talbot died when a Delaware State Trooper’s SUV collided with him along Fisher Road near Milton on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
Back in June, Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz said the preliminary investigation determined the crash occurred at approximately 12:22 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2018, as patrol units from Delaware State Police Troop 7 were actively searching for a burglary suspect reported to be a white male on a bicycle with a thin build, approximately 20 to 30 years old, in the area of the Lazy Lake and Hunters Mill Estates communities. Recent video surveillance of a burglarized residence supported the description information, according to Bratz.
The trooper, operating a fully marked 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle, was traveling northbound on Fisher Road (CR 262) approaching the intersection of Lewes-Georgetown Highway when he located a man riding a bicycle southbound matching the suspect’s description. The Trooper turned around and activated the emergency lights and siren in an effort to get the subject to stop however he refused and continued to travel southbound on Fisher Road.
The trooper ordered and directed verbal commands toward the subject to stop. The man ignored numerous verbal commands and continued to flee, according to Bratz. As the pursuit of the suspect continued the two vehicles were involved in a collision.
The subject, a 32-year-old male, was transported to Beebe Medical Center by ambulance where he was pronounced deceased.
The trooper, properly restrained at the time, was not injured in the collision. The 28-year-old trooper has been employed by the Delaware State Police for four years and is assigned to Troop 7 patrol in Lewes, DE. He has been placed on administrative leave per Divisional Policy, pending the outcome of the investigation.
