On May 25, 2019, at approximately 8 pm, the Lewes Police Department was dispatched by Sussex Communications after receiving numerous 911 calls about an intoxicated driver recklessly operating a red pick-up truck east on Savannah Road near Cedar Avenue, according to Lewes Police Chief Thomas Spell.
Spell said as officers were responding, a witness who was following the red truck, reported it was at the intersection of Kings Highway and Savannah parked with 2 wheels on the sidewalk.
Upon officers’ arrival, a white male, later identified as Fred T. Higgins, 31, of New Castle, was standing in the roadway yelling and screaming at people at a nearby restaurant while holding a can of beer, according to Spell.
As officers’ were attempting to calm the subject he continued to yell and scream and as they attempted to take him into custody, he turned and punched a Lewes Police Officer several times, according to spell. During the incident, which was witnessed by several independent people, Higgins was taken to the ground and eventually handcuffed. Higgins was subsequently arrested and charged with the following offenses:
3rd Offense DUI
Assault 2nd Degree (causing injury to a Law Enforcement Officer)
Resisting Arrest
Terroristic Threatening
Failure to Submit to Fingerprinting and Photographs
Criminal Mischief (2 counts for damage to police equipment) and
Civil Violation of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Higgins was committed to SCI on a bail of $10,000.
The Police Officer was treated and released for abrasions to his hands, elbow, and knee.