In less than 24 hours, Newark Police have charged three people with DUI stemming from three separate incidents all occurring during daytime hours, according to Lt Andrew Rubin.
Rubin said On March 23, 2021, at 8:11 am, Newark Police responded to a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Elkton Road and Christina Parkway. During the crash, a maroon Lexus struck a vehicle and left the scene on Elkton Road. The driver of the vehicle that was struck contacted a Newark Police Officer, who stopped the suspect vehicle. Following a DUI investigation, the driver was taken into custody without incident. She was identified as Viviana Depradel, 38, of New Castle. She was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and released on her own recognizance.
On March 23, 2021, at about 11:43 am, Newark Police were called to a hotel in the 600 block of South College Avenue for a report of an intoxicated male leaving in a vehicle, said Rubin. The reporting person told police that an intoxicated male left the hotel in a vehicle. Officers found the vehicle a short distance away in the parking lot of a different hotel in the 600 block of South College Avenue. An officer contacted the male driver, who was still seated behind the wheel. He was identified as Robert Latzko, 51, of Wilmington. After conducting a DUI investigation, Latzko was taken into custody without incident.
Rubin said Latzko was transported to Newark Police headquarters where he was charged with Fourth Offense Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Latzko appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #2 by video and was released on $4,000 unsecured bail.
On March 24, 2021, at about 7:23 am, Newark Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Library Avenue south of East Delaware Avenue. During the crash, a vehicle struck a sign in the median and left the scene. A Newark Police Officer located the vehicle and its driver a short distance away. Following a DUI investigation, the driver was taken into custody without incident, said Rubin. He was identified as James Clifford, 35, of Smyrna. He was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and released on his own recognizance.