Selbyville- The Delaware State Police have arrested four suspects following an investigation into the sale of illegal drugs, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.
Jaffe said the investigation began in recent weeks when members of the Sussex Governor’s Task Force (GTF) received information that several subjects were loitering on a property located in the 37000 block of Washington Avenue, Selbyville, DE. This specific property was the subject of a civil abatement in 2018 for prior drug-related crimes. As a result of that abatement process, the State of Delaware took control of the property, and all occupants were removed from the residence. The residence remained boarded up with no trespassing signs posted.
The Sussex GTF received information that subjects were returning to the property and drug activity seemed to be reoccurring. Upon receiving information on May 13, 2019, that subjects were standing on the property engaging in criminal activity, members of GTF and the Sussex Drug Unit (SDU) responded to the area. Several subjects were observed nearby and upon contact by members of GTF, some proceeded to flee on foot and a foot pursuit ensued, said Jaffe. Subsequently, the suspects were taken into custody. The suspects were identified as 51-year-old Keith Handy of Selbyville, 19-year-old Jayquan Bland of Laurel, 55-year-old Herbert Griffin of Selbyville and 23-year-old Devine Lynch of Salisbury,MD.
As a result of this investigation, approximately 97 bags of heroin and over $1600.00 in suspected drug proceeds were recovered. The four suspects were transported back to Troop 4 where they were charged with the following:
Keith Handy:
Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Maintaining a Drug Property
Conspiracy Second Degree
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Handy was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $14000.00 secured bond.
Jayquan Bland:
Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Conspiracy Second Degree
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Resisting Arrest
Tampering with Evidence
Bland was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $11500.00 secured bond.
Herbert Griffin:
Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Conspiracy Second Degree
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Resisting Arrest
Griffin was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $10500.00 secured bond.
Devine Lynch:
Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Conspiracy Second Degree
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Resisting Arrest
Lynch was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $10500.00 secured bond.