Troopers: Suspect Caught Driving Clerk’s Car Blocks Away From Robbery Scene

Newark– The Delaware State Police have arrested 19-year-old Tarell Berry of Wilmington, DE, in connection with the robberies of a gas station and dollar store in Newark, according to Public Information Officer, Corporal/1 Jason Hatchell.

Hatchell said the first incident occurred on January 14, 2021, at approximately 9:56 p.m., when troopers were dispatched to the Dollar General located at 4126 Ogletown Stanton Road, Newark, for a report of a robbery. Upon arrival, it was learned that two male suspects entered the store. One male suspect approached the sales counter and displayed a handgun, while the second suspect stood watch at the entrance to the store, said Hatchell. The first suspect forcibly removed an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and both fled the scene.

The second incident occurred at approximately 1:28 a.m., Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at the Exxon gas station, located at 4600 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark. The investigation determined a male suspect confronted a 61-year-old male employee and forced himself behind the sales counter where he took cigars and an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. The suspect then forced the employee to a back office inside the store where he displayed a handgun and demanded the victim’s cell phone and car keys, said Hatchell. The employee complied and the suspect fled the scene in the victim’s 2004 Honda Civic. The employee was not injured as a result of the incident.

Through investigative means, troopers were able to track the suspect to a residence located on Allandale Drive in Newark. On February 2, 2021, troopers observed Berry arrive in the Newark area in the stolen Honda Civic from the second robbery. As Berry was walking on foot troopers took him into custody without incident. Subsequently, troopers executed a search warrant on the residence and located a weapon matching the description used in both robberies and the keys to the stolen car, added Hatchell.

Berry was transported to Troop 2 where he was charged with the following crimes:

Robbery 1st Degree (Felony)- 3 counts
Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)- 2 counts
Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
Berry was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $424,000 cash bond.

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