Delaware State Police arrested 51-year-old Elvis Cruz of Newark, Delaware, for several felony offenses following a pursuit in a stolen vehicle.
Officials said on September 26, 2024, a trooper patrolling near the Christiana Mall was alerted to a stolen Nissan Maxima in the parking lot.
The trooper confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen by the New Castle County Police Department and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Although the driver, later identified as Cruz, initially pulled over, he suddenly sped off, leading the trooper on a brief pursuit before abandoning the vehicle at Sonesta Suites on Chapman Road according to police.
Cruz fled on foot but was apprehended after a brief chase and Taser deployment. A search of the stolen vehicle revealed shoplifted items from Macy’s at Christiana Mall, linking Cruz to additional thefts on September 23 and 24.
Further investigation also connected him to a theft of over $1,500 in perfumes from Perfume Point at Christiana Mall on September 22. Cruz was transported to Troop 2 and charged with multiple offenses, including felony disregarding a police officer’s signal, receiving stolen property over $1,500, theft of $1,500 or greater, organized retail crime, and resisting arrest, along with other traffic-related offenses. He was arraigned and released on unsecured bonds totaling $12,102.