The Delaware State Police have arrested 18-year-old Michael Flamer and 18-year-old Tajon West, both of Chester, Pennsylvania, for committing an armed robbery early this morning in Laurel according to police.
Officials said on March 11, 2023, at approximately 12:50 a.m., troopers responded to the Lakeside Motel in Laurel regarding a robbery that had just occurred. Troopers contacted a 34-year-old man who advised that he works for a ridesharing company and had just given two men a ride to Laurel from the Philadelphia area.
When they arrived at the predetermined destination, the two men pushed the driver and took his cell phone from him. Both suspects threatened to shoot the driver if he did not get out of the car, while one of the suspects began pulling what looked like a gun out from his jacket pocket according to police. The suspects got out of the car and tried to open the driver’s door, but the victim was able to leave and drive to the Lakeside Motel to call 9-1-1.
Later at approximately 4:23 a.m., a trooper contacted two men at the Relax Inn, located at 30702 Sussex Highway in Laurel. Both men were looking for a ride to Philadelphia, and both matched the suspect descriptions provided by the victim. The two suspects, identified as Michael Flamer and Tajon West, were taken into custody without incident.
Flamer and West were taken to Troop 5 and both were charged with the following crimes:
- Robbery First Degree (Felony)
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
- Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
- Terroristic Threatening
Flamer and West were arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and both were committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $47,500 cash bond.
Detectives are still attempting to recover the gun that may have been used in this incident. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective W. Saylor by calling 302-856-5850.