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New Castle & Newark– The Delaware State Police launched an investigation into illegal drug sales in New Castle County, according to Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz.
Bratz said nine people were charged after the culmination of a month-long investigation. Multiple search warrants were executed at residences in New Castle and Newark. The joint effort between the Delaware State Police, Probation and Parole, New Castle County Governor’s Task Force, Kent County Drug Unit, New Castle County Police Department Safe Streets Unit and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms led to the seizure of nine firearms and over $52,000.00 in illegally obtained drug proceeds, said Bratz.
In mid-January, members of the Delaware State Police and Probation and Parole (GTF) initiated an investigation into Karieem J. Howell Jr., 22 of Newark and Malique Howell, 18 of New Castle. Troopers obtained information that both these subjects were involved in distributing large amounts of marijuana while in possession of firearms, according to Bratz. Very early in this investigation, it was learned that the New Castle County Police Safe Streets Unit and the Delaware State Police Kent County Drug Unit, also had information regarding additional subjects involved in this criminal activity.
On Tuesday, February 6, 2018, Probation and Parole Officers conducted a search in the 2000 block of Porter Road, Newark. At this residence, Dale E. Doyle, who is on Level II probation, was contacted as a member of the drug trafficking organization. During the search warrant, 979 grams (approximately 2 lbs.) of marijuana was seized, said Bratz. Dale E. Doyle, 21 of New Castle, was transported to Troop 2 and charged with: Possession of Marijuana Tier I Felony and Possession with the Intent to Distribute (PWID) Marijuana Felony. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 2 and given a $3000.00 unsecured bond; however, he was subsequently committed on an administrative warrant to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution for violation of his probation.
Thursday, February 8, 2018, members of the Governor’s Task Force (GTF) gained information of two residences in the unit blocks of Bradbury Road and Caxton Drive, New Castle which had been used for drug trafficking. Shortly after receiving this information, members of (GTF) observed what appeared to be a drug transaction occurring at the Caxton Drive address, said Bratz. As (GTF) attempted to conduct a stop of the subject in the neighborhood of Eagle Glenn, the vehicle fled down a dead end street and the driver then fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, the subject was caught and identified as Patrice St. Bernard, 26 of New Castle. St. Bernard was found in possession of 223 grams of marijuana (approximately ½ pound) and nearly $400.00 of suspected drug proceeds, according to Bratz.
Patrice St. Bernard, 26 of New Castle, was transported to Troop 2 and charged with: Possession with the Intent to Distribute (PWID) Marijuana Felony, Possession of Marijuana in a Tier I Quantity Felony, Tampering with Physical Evidence Felony, Disregarding a Police Officers Signal Felony, (2 Counts) Possession of a Controlled Substance, Resisting Arrest, Breach of Release, Numerous Traffic Offenses. St. Bernard is on active probation. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 11 and was committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of $13,500.00 secured bond and was issued an administrative arrest warrant for violation of probation.
Through investigative measures, GTF was able to obtain evidence to secure search warrants for the unit block of Bradbury Drive, New Castle DE and the unit block of Aldershot Drive, Newark DE.
At the Aldershot Drive address, contact was made with Malique Howell and Harrison Dorsey. During a search of the residence the following was located: a Colt AR-15 rifle, a 9mm Taurus semi-automatic handgun with obliterated serial number, two shotguns, a Sig Sauer 522 rifle (reported stolen), several hundreds of rounds and extended magazines for various firearms, 132 grams of marijuana, $27,560.00 in suspected drug proceeds, money counter and drug paraphernalia commonly used for the distribution of marijuana, according to Bratz.
Malique Howell, 18 of New Castle, was transported to Troop 2 and charged with: Receiving a Stolen Firearm Felony, Possession of a Weapon with an Obliterated Serial Number Felony, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana Felony, Conspiracy 2nd Felony, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of $79,000.00 cash bond.
Harrison Dorsey, 23 of New Castle, was transported to Troop 2 and charged with: Receiving a Stolen Firearm Felony, Possession of a Weapon with an Obliterated Serial Number Felony, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited Felony, Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited Felony with Intent to Deliver Marijuana Felony, Conspiracy 2nd Felony, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 2 and subsequently committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of $101,000.00 cash bond.
On February 16, 2018 New Castle County Governor’s Task Force executed a search warrant in the unit block of Bradbury Road with assistance from Delaware State Police New Castle County and Kent County Drug Units, Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Probation and Parole. During the search warrant contact was made with Sharon M. Howell and Loretta L. McCleary.
During a search of the residence, the following was located: a sawed-off shotgun, a Taurus 9mm handgun, large amounts of ammunition for various firearms, drug paraphernalia used for the distribution of marijuana, over $2,400.00 in suspected drug proceeds, extended clip for a handgun, marijuana, MDMA, cocaine and Oxycodone tablets, said Bratz.
Sharon M. Howell, 41 of New Castle and Loretta L. McCleary, 42 of New Castle were transported to Troop 2 and were formally charged with: Possession of a Destructive Weapon Felony, Possession of a Deadly Weapon while in Possession of a Controlled Substance Felony, Conspiracy 2nd Felony, Manufacture or Deliver a Controlled Substance Felony, 4 x Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on $28,000 unsecured bond.
Detectives from the New Castle County Police Safe Streets Task Force (NCCPD/Probation and Parole) received information of marijuana sales from South Independence Boulevard – Jefferson Farms. During the investigation, it was discovered that the Governor’s Task Force (DSP/Probation and Parole) had a separate investigation into other suspects that link the two cases. New Castle County Police Safe Streets Task Force and Delaware State Police Governor’s Task Force then collaborated and shared intelligence on their respective investigations.
On Friday, February 16, 2018, the New Castle County Police Safe Streets Task Force, assisted by New Castle County Police SWAT and the Mobile Enforcement Team, executed a search warrant in the unit block of South Independence Boulevard, New Castle. Detectives seized 490.91 grams of marijuana, two handguns, 194 rounds of ammunition and $22,549 in suspected drug proceeds, according to Bratz.
Dillon Brasefield, (22) and Ryan Gabbert (24) both of New Castle are each being charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance in Tier I quantity, Drug Dealing, Conspiracy II, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.
Please contact the New Castle County Police Department for any questions at 302-573-2800.
There are currently outstanding arrest warrants for Karieem J. Howell Jr., 22 of Newark for: Receiving a Stolen Firearm Felony, Possession of a Weapon with an Obliterated Serial Number Felony, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana Felony, Conspiracy 2nd Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of WANTED Karieem J. Howell Jr. is asked to please contact Troop 2 Governor’s Task Force at 302-834-2620. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.