Delaware State Police have arrested 40-year-old Daniel Tesfamihret of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in connection with a string of thefts and burglaries in New Castle County. The arrest, which took place on Friday, follows a month-long investigation into a series of criminal incidents in the area.
Officials said on September 8, 2023, at around 12:36 a.m., troopers were called to Cloud High Vape and Smoke located at 1 Chesmar Plaza in Newark. The report indicated an ongoing burglary, with the suspect reportedly using a white work truck, matching the description of the vehicle seen in previous incidents in the area. In response, a trooper spotted a white work truck traveling eastbound on E. Chestnut Hill Road. The trooper activated their emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.
However, the operator of the vehicle failed to comply with the police signal and instead accelerated, fleeing the scene at a high speed and entering I-95 northbound according to police. During the pursuit, the vehicle struck a concrete barrier on the ramp to I-95 before veering off the road into a wooded area. The pursuit ended when the vehicle came to a stop, and the suspect fled on foot into the woods. Despite multiple verbal commands from troopers to stop, the suspect continued into the wooded area. With the assistance of a DSP K9 unit, law enforcement apprehended the Tesfamihret.
Following his arrest, Tesfamihret was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of an injury sustained during the canine apprehension. Authorities also discovered that the suspect vehicle had been reported as stolen by the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland back in June 2023.
Subsequently, Troop 2 Property Crimes Detectives took over the investigation. Through their efforts, detectives established a connection between Tesfamihret and five gas station and tobacco store burglaries and thefts that occurred in New Castle County between August 15, 2023, and September 8, 2023 officials said. During this period, Tesfamihret allegedly stole property valued at over $14,000 and caused damage estimated at more than $12,000.
Upon his release from the hospital, Daniel Tesfamihret was transported to Troop 2, where he faced a series of charges, including burglary third-degree (felony), wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony (felony), theft over $1,500 (felony), receiving stolen property valued over $1,500 (felony), disregard a police officer signal (felony), theft under $1,500, receiving stolen property valued under $1,500, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief.
Following his arraignment at Justice of the Peace Court 11, Tesfamihret was remanded to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $20,000 cash bond.