Middletown Police have made an arrest in a string of auto thefts and break-ins in Middletown, according to, according to Lieutenant Dawn Misino.
Misino said numerous thefts from motor vehicles and stolen vehicles were reported to the Middletown Police Department beginning on August 26th, 2019 through September 3rd, 2019. Victims in the Middletown Village Community and the Millbranch Community reported a total of 25 incidents.
On September 5th, 2019 at approximately 4:15 in the morning, Middletown Police responded to the 100 block of Redden Lane for a report of a suspicious subject.
When officers arrived on location the subject fled from a vehicle and led the police on a foot chase through the Millbranch Community, which ended with the suspect’s apprehension in the Middletown Square Shopping Center, according to Misino.
Through investigation on scene it was determined that the suspect, identified as Denzel J. Massengill, of Bridgeton New Jersey, was actively breaking into vehicles just prior to police contact, according to Misino. Massengill had numerous burglar’s tools in his possession and a search of the surrounding area yielded the recovery of a vehicle reported stolen from Middletown Village on August 26, 2019, according to Misino.
Evidence was recovered from inside of the stolen vehicle which linked Massengill to several other incidents, Misino said.
On September 5th, 2019 Massengill was charged with the theft of three motor vehicles, five counts of burglary in the third degree, resisting arrest and possession of burglar’s tools. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and was transported to Howard Young Correctional Facility in lieu of $30,600 cash bail.
On September 6th, 2019 the investigation continued and Massengill was linked to additional incidents which also occurred in Middletown Village on August 26th, 2019, and an additional warrant was obtained by Middletown Police, according to Misino. Massengill was charged with an additional twenty-one counts of Burglary Third Degree, twenty-two counts of Theft Under $1500.00.
He is awaiting arraignment on the additional charges.
A large amount of stolen property was recovered during this investigation and the Criminal Investigation Unit is actively working to return the property to its owners.
Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Adam Starrett at 302-376-9950 or via email at Adam.Starrett@cj.state.de.us.