The Delaware State Police have arrested a Laurel man after he led them on a pursuit, according to Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz.
Bratz said the incident occurred on Friday, November 23, 2018, at approximately 2:50 a.m., when a Trooper on patrol conducted a canvass of the Laurel Royal Farms, located at 30983 Sussex Highway, in Laurel. The Trooper noticed that an occupied Chevrolet Silverado was backed into the corner of the parking lot. He observed that Matthew Patchett, 29, a wanted suspect, was sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
When the Trooper, along with his backup, activated their emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop the vehicle fled, traveling at a high rate of speed and a pursuit ensued, according to Bratz.
Patchett continued southbound on Sussex Highway and accelerated to high speeds in excess of the posted speed limit. The suspect vehicle was in the left lane of travel and crossed the center line, failing to maintain a single lane and driving at inconsistent speeds. The vehicle then came to a controlled stop on the southbound shoulder of Sussex Highway, just south of West Snake Road. When Troopers attempted to make contact with Patchett he fled again, according to Bratz.
The suspect continued to drive on several roadways in an unsafe and aggressive manner at high speeds. The vehicle was lost and later located behind a residence on Dogwood Lane by a Laurel Police Officer. The suspect again fled in the vehicle, traveling northbound on Dogwood Lane. As the suspect vehicle entered the curve on Dogwood Lane Patchett directed his pickup truck in the direction of the Trooper’s patrol vehicle, almost causing a head-on collision, according to Bratz.
Patchett’s vehicle became disabled and stop off the north edge of the road on Old Sharptown Road, just east of Williams Road. After refusing to comply with verbal commands, Patchett climbed over the front seat female passenger and exited through the front passenger door before fleeing on foot. Patchett was taken into custody after a brief foot chase with the assistance of the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit. Bratz said that there was a brief struggle as Troopers caught up with Patchett.
He was transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with multiple traffic violations in addition to Felony Theft, Two counts of Reckless Endanger First Degree Creates a Substantial Risk of Death to Another, Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence and Intentionally Fleeing From a Peace Officer, Disregarding a Police Officer Signal, Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence, Registered Sex Offender Failed to Verify Address as Required, Aggressive Driving, Speeding, Failure to Stop At Stop Sign (5 counts), No Signal, Drive Across Median, and Follow to Closely.
Matthew A. Patchett was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $8,750.00 secured bond.