7/15/10 - Police Blotter

A Newark area man has been arrested on charges that he raped a young woman and took video and photographic images. New Castle County Police identified the suspect as Dan Tam Le, 21, who resides in the Abbey Walk Apartments, just off Kirkwood Highway, east of Newark. 

He has been charged with rape in the second degree and invasion of privacy after he sexually assaulted a female friend who passed out at his home. He is accused of taking video and photographic images of the victim during the assault.

The victim indicated she had been visiting a friend at his apartment and decided to stay over because it was late.

When the victim awoke, she realized she had been sexually assaulted and was partially clothed. She then called a friend who picked her up and drove her to Troop 6 to report the assault. The investigation was turned over the New Castle County Police Department due to the location of the crime.

Le, on Monday, was arrested after a forensic exam of his cell phone revealed he had taken video and photographic images of the assault. He has been arraigned and released after he posted $11,000 secured bail.

Shoplifter gets caught in the act

Newark officers responded to a shoplifting report made by security personnel at the Home Depot, located at 1000 Suburban Dr. James Barton, 32, of North East, Md., was detained by employees at the store. After they arrived, police searched Barton to reveal a Dewalt cordless drill and charger valued at $300, and a razor knife used to cut open the case. Barton initially stated that he stole the drill from his employer, but an empty case found in the power tool aisle matched the serial number of the drill in Barton’s possession.

Employees of Home Depot said he had been spotted on other occasions in the power tool area. Workers would later find empty cases in the vicinity.

Barton has been observed being picked up by a female driving a gold car, as he left the store.

Barton was charged with shoplifting by Newark Police.

Thieves rob business

KMP Mechanical LLC, located at 118 Sandy Dr., in the Sandy Brae Industrial Park, Newark, reported that unknown suspects had entered their lot and attempted to make off with three metal job boxes that were secured in the back of one of the trucks parked at the site. Police found two of the diamond plate steel boxes had been unbolted, with the third one still fastened. Employees also stated that a metal 4’ by 6’ locker containing scrap metal was missing. The value of the metal is estimated to be $20. The only evidence left behind was an empty Milwaukee’s Best beer can. No other witnesses, prints, or video were recovered at the site. KMP told officers that they have no suspects in mind for the attempted theft, but the business has been the victim of gas siphoning in the past.

Driver forced to visit ATM

Newark officers are on the lookout for a robber that forced an out of state driver to visit several businesses in Maryland and Delaware last Friday morning, in an effort to make cash withdrawals.

The driver, 24, from Davenport, Fla., met police in the parking lot near Sears in the College Square Shopping Center and stated that a black male pointing a silver revolver had stopped his 2007 Honda Pilot as he was approaching the bridge on Apple Rd. The suspect is described as having a dark complexion, 18 to 21 years old, 5’ 10” tall, approximately 180 lbs., wearing black sneakers, jeans, and a black hoodie with a gray or white tattoo design on the upper left shoulder area.

The suspect entered the passenger side door and demanded that the victim give over his cash and wallet. The wallet contained $46 and an ATM card.

The suspect entered the rear seat of the vehicle and forced the victim to drive to the nearest ATM to make a cash withdrawal. The victim drove to the Wilmington Trust bank in Suburban Plaza and drew $500 from his account, which is the daily limit.

The victim, not satisfied with only the $500, told the victim to use the machine in the nearby Acme supermarket to remove more. The suspect stayed in the car and held the driver’s cell phone and keys.

When the driver returned without additional funds, the suspect forced him to visit the Wawa convenience store on Rt. 4 to make a withdrawal using a debit card. When this attempt failed, the victim drove to the Wal-Mart store on Rt. 40 in Maryland and withdrew $100. The victim drove back to Delaware, in the vicinity of Westerly St., Newark, where the suspect exited the car and ran toward the nearby townhouses. The driver immediately reported the incident and met authorities at College Square.

Police examined the vehicle and recovered several prints from the passenger side door. Several suitcases, two blankets, and a cooler full of alcoholic beverages was also found in the car, along with a Pepsi and an empty bag of beef jerky that the victim bought at Wal-Mart. Police asked the victim why he did not call for help, when he had three chances to do so at the various businesses. He made no comment.

The suspect is wanted for taking $646 in cash and a silver watch worth $50 from the victim.

Meth lab found