The Delaware State Police have updated a story that only First State Update brought you yesterday.
On Saturday, State Police announced the arrest of a 51-year-old Maryland man following a carjacking that occurred Friday afternoon in Middletown.
Police said David Thornton, 51, of Essex, Maryland, was taken into custody in connection with the incident, which occurred on December 12, 2025, at approximately 1:15 p.m. Investigators stated that a man from Texas was traveling northbound on State Route 301 near Summit Bridge Road in a white Chevrolet Silverado when he encountered two vehicles that had been involved in a crash. According to police, the man stopped to render assistance and spoke with the driver of a Mercedes involved in the crash, later identified as Thornton.
Authorities said that while the victim was calling 9-1-1, Thornton entered the driver’s seat of the Silverado. Police allege that when the victim opened the rear door of the truck, Thornton reached for an object, ordered the victim to get out of the vehicle, and then fled the scene in the Silverado.
The stolen vehicle was electronically tracked and located a short time later on the ramp from northbound Interstate 95 to Airport Road after it struck a guardrail, police said. Troopers responded to the location and took Thornton into custody without incident. During a search of the Silverado, police reported locating a revolver-style CO2 BB gun inside the vehicle.
Thornton was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the crashes. After being released from medical care, he was taken to Delaware State Police Troop 2. Police said he was charged with first-degree robbery, a felony, along with multiple crash-related traffic violations. Thornton was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $20,000 cash bond.
