Troopers have charged a pair just months after being charged with similar crimes earlier this year.
Colleen Floyd, 32, of Delaware City, and David Mitchell, 55, of Newark, who were released on unsecured bond earlier this year for stealing copper wire from a New Castle construction site, have been arrested again on burglary and related charges. This time, the pair are accused of breaking into the now-closed Emily Bissell Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.
The investigation began in August 2024 after Delaware State Police received multiple reports of trespassing and theft from the vacant facility at 3000 Newport Gap Pike. Troopers initiated surveillance in response to the complaints.
On September 8, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m., surveillance footage captured an unidentified male, later identified as Mitchell, arriving at the hospital on foot with a large backpack. He was seen leaving the property with copper piping and other materials taken from inside the building, causing significant damage police said.
On September 10, at approximately 11:51 p.m., surveillance cameras alerted detectives to two individuals, later identified as Floyd and Mitchell, re-entering the building. Troopers arrived at the scene and, upon hearing loud sawing noises from inside, began searching the facility. Both suspects were located inside and arrested. Further investigation revealed that Mitchell was carrying the same backpack used in the earlier burglary according to police.
Floyd and Mitchell were taken to Troop 2, where they were charged with multiple felonies. Floyd was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Correctional Institution on an $11,000 cash bond. Mitchell was also arraigned and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $17,000 secured bond.