Newark- Delaware State Police have arrested two people and have charged them in connection with a pair of armed robberies which occurred earlier this week in Newark, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Jeffrey Hale.
Hale said the initial investigation began on Monday, September 18, 2017 at approximately 6:00 a.m., after troopers responded to the Motel 6, located at 100 McIntosh Plaza, in reference to a home invasion style robbery which had occurred. Upon their arrival, troopers were contacted by a 64-year-old male victim who advised that a male suspect had forced his way into his room and confronted him while displaying a handgun, according to Hale. The suspect then demanded that the victim contact his bank in order to determine how much money he had in his accounts.
The suspect then forced the victim to exit the room with him so that they could respond to the victim’s bank and withdrawal funds from the accounts. As the victim exited the room, he fled on foot from the suspect across the motel parking lot. The suspect chased the victim and subsequently caught up to him. He then assaulted the victim before returning to the motel, where he and a female who had been in the victim’s room prior to the suspect’s arrival, both fled in the victim’s red 2014 Land Rover, said Hale
As officials became aware of the incident Troopers flooded into the area searching for the suspects. Trooper 4 was alerted and helped search for the suspect vehicle from the air.
At approximately 7:47 a.m. on Monday, September 18th, troopers were called to respond to an armed robbery which had just occurred at the Exxon located at 263 E. Chestnut Hill Road. Upon their arrival troopers learned that a male suspect had entered the Exxon and displayed an unknown make and model hand gun and confronted a male clerk, according to Hale. The suspect then demanded money from the cash register, added Hale. The clerk complied with the suspect’s demands and turned over an undisclosed amount of money to him. Hale said he suspect then removed a pair of boxes containing a variety of cigarette cartons and exited the store. He was last observed entering into a red Land Rover, which matched the description of the car which had been stolen from the victim of the robbery at the Motel 6. The male suspect also matched the description of the suspect from the Motel 6.
After further investigation, which included witness interviews and the collection of physical evidence, troopers were able to identify the female who had fled in the car as Candis N. Sanchez-Steever, 22, of Newark, said Hale. They were also able to determine that Sanchez-Steever had befriended the victim of the Motel 6 robbery and then set him up to be robbed by the male suspect, later identified as William H. Piatt, 32, also of Newark, according to Hale.
On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, troopers were able to locate the stolen Land Rover in the parking lot of Gallaher Elementary School, located on N. Brownleaf Road, Newark and located further evidence linking Piatt to the robberies, according to authorities.
On Thursday, September, 22nd, the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (S.O.R.T.), Troop 2 detectives, the Newark Police Department, and the New Castle County Police Department, executed search warrants at a residence located in the 200 block of Bluefield Road as well as a home located in the unit block of Dallas Road, Newark, which were linked to the suspects. Upon entering the Bluefield Road home, officers were able to take William Piatt into custody without incident. Officers were also able to take Candis Sanchez-Steever into custody without incident after entering the residence on Dallas Road. Evidence linking the suspects to the two robberies being investigated by the Delaware State Police, as well as robberies being investigated by the New Castle County Police and the Newark Police Department, was located inside of both homes, said Hale.
William Piatt was transported to Troop 2 where he was arrested and charged with Home Invasion, Kidnapping 1st Degree, two counts of Robbery 1st Degree, two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, and Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony. He was arraigned at JP Court 2 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution in default of $205,000.00 cash bail.
Candis Sanchez-Steever was also transported to Troop 2 where she was charged with Kidnapping 1st Degree, Robbery 1st Degree, Home Invasion, and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. She was arraigned at JP Court 2 and committed to the Delores Baylor Correctional Institution in default of $151,000.00 secured bail.