Drunk driver damages four vehicles in Middletown
    On Aug. 23 at 6:26 p.m., Middletown Police were notified of a reckless driver, later identified as Kimberly A. Bruce, 46, of Newark, who was traveling eastbound on Main Street in the area of Cleaver Farm Road.
    A motorist reported a possibly intoxicated driver through 9-1-1. The caller observed a dark-colored Suzuki turn onto Main Street eastbound from Cleaver Farm Road. This vehicle drove over the raised concrete median at the intersection. The caller continued to follow the vehicle while relaying information to the dispatch center, providing continuous updates to responding units.
    At the intersection with Brick Mill Road, the vehicle sideswiped an oncoming vehicle preparing to turn into the Willow Grove Mill neighborhood. The operator of the latter vehicle did not sustain any injuries.
    Bruce was again traveling eastbound in westbound lanes as she approached and began to cross over the Del. 299 and Del. 1 interchange. She attempted to return to the eastbound lanes by crossing the median. While traveling on the median, she severed a street sign and launched it into the air. The sign struck the side of a van traveling westbound, which was occupied by a family of four including two children ages 1 and 3. The impact with the sign and pole shattered both the driver’s window and cargo area glass. No occupants of this vehicle were injured as a result of this collision.
    The sign and post then struck a second vehicle in the windshield, punching through the glass and shattering it. The operator of this vehicle was transported by ambulance to Christiana Medical Care, where she was treated and released.
    Bruce’s vehicle continued eastbound on the raised concrete median until it returned to the roadway at the beginning of the left turn lane. The vehicle then struck a fourth vehicle, which was stopped in this lane, preparing to enter Del. 1 north bound. In this final collision, Bruce’s vehicle sustained disabling damage.
    Upon the arrival of MPD units, Bruce was unconscious and unresponsive. New Castle County Paramedics and Odessa Fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel responded along with Delaware State Police patrol units. Bruce was flown to Christiana Medical Care by the DSP helicopter, where she was admitted for her injuries.
    Bruce was charged with driving under the influence, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of driving on the wrong side of the road and driving across the median.

Fatal motorcycle crash on Cox Neck Road
    Friday, Aug. 29, shortly after 9 a.m., a 2008 Suzuki Hyabusa motorcycle traveling westbound on Cox Neck Road between Clark’s Corner Road and U.S. 13 entered a slight leftward curve in the roadway. The operator of the bike, Stephen E. Parag Sr., 57, of Delaware City, failed to negotiate the curve. The Suzuki left the north side of the roadway and entered a driveway culvert. Parag was ejected from the motorcycle, and while tumbling to a stop, he struck a road sign. The motorcycle also continued off the roadway and collided with shed, a mailbox and small trees before coming to a stop.
    Parag was wearing a helmet but suffered severe bodily injury and died as a result of his injuries.
    High speed is considered a factor in this crash.
    This crash remains under investigation.

Middletown man arrested for graffiti
    On Aug. 26 at 9:35 p.m., Middletown Police officers were dispatched to the area of the Middletown Water Tower at 605 N. Broad St. for a criminal mischief in progress. Upon arrival, officers canvassed the area.
    Officer Scott Saunders stopped John Harmon, 18, of New Street, in the area of Franklin Drive. Officer Saunders located a spray paint can in his pocket. Investigation revealed that Harmon and two other individuals had committed numerous criminal mischief/graffiti to other locations within the town (Food Lion, Old Shone Lumber Building and the Rausch Fuel Building) prior to the water tower.
    Harmon was charged with one count of felony criminal mischief, one count of felony conspiracy, one count of possession of a graffiti tool, three counts of criminal mischief and three counts of conspiracy.
    The investigation is ongoing and additional charges and arrests are pending.

Newark juvenile stopped for traffic violation, Delaware City passenger found with marijuana
    On Aug. 26 at 3:40 p.m., Officer Ronald Davis attempted to stop a Red Acura for a traffic violation on East Lockwood Street.
    The vehicle failed to stop at Davis’ command and continued on Lockwood, committing numerous traffic violations. The vehicle was finally stopped in the parking area of Napa Auto Parts.
    The driver, a 17-year-old Newark resident, was taken into custody without incident. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were discovered on the passenger, Michael Comegys, 18, of Delaware City.
    The juvenile was charged with driving an unsafe motor vehicle, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, aggressive driving, driving without a valid license, no proof of insurance, going the wrong way on a one-way road, failure to stop at command and three stop sign violations. He was released to the custody of a relative and will appear at a later date.
    Comegys was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and was released.

New Castle County Police searching for missing ex-Middletown resident
    New Castle County Police have arrest warrants on file for Robert Hyer, a 49-year-old male who resides in the 300 block of Great Oak Drive. He is wanted for allegedly defrauding an elderly woman who paid him $26,375 to build her a deck and porch on her home.
    According to police, Hyer completed only a small portion of the work and failed to return. He has since stopped taking the victim’s calls, disconnected his phones and has moved out of his home.
    The investigation has revealed Hyer was a local contractor in the Middletown area who entered into a contract with the victim in June. He began the work at her Townsend area home as expected, but only completed a small amount of the job before failing to return.
    Police later responded to his residence on Great Oak Drive and found his home empty and apparently listed for sale. Investigators believe Hyer may have moved to an unknown address in New Jersey. He may be driving a white 1990 Ford pick up truck that displays a Delaware registration C83020.
    To offer information regarding his whereabouts, please call the New Castle County Police Department at 395-8171 (attention Cpl. Jeff Hill), go to www.nccpd.com or call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.