New Castle – The Delaware State Police have arrested 29-year-old Frank Pope of Newport, in connection with a knifepoint robbery that occurred at approximately 8:33 p.m., Saturday, May 18, 2019, at the BP Gas Station located at 1 Jay Drive, New Castle, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.
Austin said during this incident, a masked suspect, brandishing a knife, confronted an employee at the sales counter and demanded cash from the register. The employee complied with the demand and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect who then fled the scene on foot. The employee was not injured as a result of this incident.
Through further investigation Troopers were able to develop a silver, Chevy Impala which had distinctive identifying characteristics as a suspect vehicle. On Monday, May 20, 2019, while on routine patrol, a Trooper observed a Chevy Impala matching the description of the suspect vehicle, on U.S. 13 in the area of I-295 in New Castle, at which time he performed a traffic stop. Pope who was identified as the driver, was taken into custody without incident and then transported to Troop 2 for further investigation.
Once at Troop 2 detectives obtained information positively linking Pope to the robbery. During a search of the Chevy, evidence, to include a mask and a knife were recovered, further linking Pope to the robbery.
Pope was charged with one count each of Robbery 1st Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon during the Commission of a Felony and Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court #2 and then committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $55,000.00 secured bail.
