Newark – The Delaware State Police have arrested 33 year old, Bryheen J. Mitchell of Wilmington, in connection with a string of armed robberies that occurred during the first two weeks in May, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.
Austin said between Sunday, May 5, and Thursday, May 9, 2019 Troopers investigated a series of four robberies, three occurring in Newark and one in Wilmington, in which a disguised suspect would approach an employee at the sales counter and present a note announcing a robbery. The suspect would then imply that he was armed and threatened to shoot the victims if they did not comply. In each robbery the suspect obtained cash from the register before fleeing the area.
The robberies took place at the following locations:
May 5: Walgreens, 3301 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington
May 7: Walgreens, 15 University Plaza, Newark
May 8: Shell Gas Station, 380 E. Chestnut Hill Rd, Newark
May 9: GameStop, 870 Peoples Plaza, Newark
During the course of the investigations, detectives were able to confirm that the same suspect was responsible for all four robberies. They were also able to identify a dark colored Chrysler Sebring as a suspect vehicle, which through further investigative measures was positively linked to Mitchell, said Austin.
On Friday, May 10, Mitchell was observed driving the Chrysler in the City of Wilmington, at which time members of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), attempted to stop the vehicle. Mitchell refused to stop and abandoned the vehicle in the 800 block of W. 6th St. He then fled into a residence located in the 800 block of W. 8th St., where he was taken into custody by SORT members, without further incident.
Mitchell was transported to Troop 2 where he was charged for the robberies as well as additional offenses related to his actions during his apprehension. He was ultimately charged with the following offenses:
Robbery 1st Degree (3 counts)
Robbery 2nd Degree
Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony (4 counts)
Reckless Endangering 1st Degree
Disregard a Police Officers Signal
Resisting Arrest
Unreasonable Speed
Fail to Stop at Stop Sign
Driving Suspended
Mitchell was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court #11 and then committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $213,000.00 secured bail.
