On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, officers from the New Castle County Police Mobile Enforcement Team arrested 38-year-old Craig Speakman of Wilmington on multiple felony charges. The arrest followed a vehicle pursuit that stemmed from an investigation into illegal drug sales.
Officials said at approximately 4:30 p.m., Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Honda Civic driven by Speakman on Locust Avenue in Elsmere in connection with the illegal drug sales investigation. However, Speakman refused to stop and sped away. While trying to evade the police, he collided with a parked Nissan Sentra on G Street, then reversed into a fully marked New Castle County Police Tahoe with its emergency lights on police said. Despite the impact, Speakman continued to flee, eventually turning onto Dover Avenue.
Officials said while on Dover Avenue, Speakman approached a stopped school bus with its stopping equipment activated and children actively attempting to exit. He ignored the bus, drove onto the sidewalk to bypass it, and continued his attempt to evade officers.
Speakman then turned onto Sanders Road and continued driving through a business parking lot, where he struck a parked vehicle occupied by a 40-year-old male. Officers were able to take Speakman into custody following the crash. Neither Speakman nor the involved officer sustained injuries. The occupant of the parked vehicle suffered minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene.
Detectives from the Division’s Traffic Services Unit arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation into the accident. During the follow-up, the Mobile Enforcement Team recovered 32 ecstasy pills (MDMA), 243 grams of marijuana, and four amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) pills, along with packaging materials and other items commonly associated with narcotics distribution police said.
Speakman was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters, where he was charged with the following crimes:
- Two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance
- One felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, Tier 2.
- One felony count of possession of a controlled substance Tier 1.
- One felony count of disregarding a police officer signal.
- One misdemeanor count of vehicular assault third-degree.
- One misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
- One misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of a property collision accident.
- One misdemeanor count of passing a stopped school bus.
- One misdemeanor count of aggressive driving.
- One misdemeanor count of reckless driving.
- One violation of failure to report a public highway collision with damage.
- One violation of driving in the proper lane and direction.
- One violation of driving a motor vehicle on the sidewalk is prohibited.
Craig Speakman was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to pay $26,500 cash bail.