Laurel teenager arrested for drug and weapons offenses

LAUREL, Delaware – A 17-year-old is behind bars after he was found with drugs and a firearm following a chase in Laurel, according to police.

According to Laurel police, the incident occurred around 12:20 p.m. Thursday while an officer was patrolling near the First Stop gas station on West Street in Laurel.

The officer spotted three male juveniles on West Street. One of them appeared to be concealing a weapon in his waistband, according to police.

When police tried to stop them, two fled east on 6th Street while the other, suspected of concealing a weapon, fled south on West Street.

Officers noticed that the third youth was still fiddling with his waistband and ordered him to stop. After several requests, he complied and was arrested, police said. A body search found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol in his waistband. He was also found to be in possession of crack cocaine and Xanax pills without a prescription.

The juvenile was arrested and identified as a 17-year-old male from Salisbury. He was charged with concealed carrying of a deadly weapon (a firearm) (Class D felony), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (Class D felony), possession of ammunition by a prohibited person (Class D felony), and possession of a controlled substance x2 (Class B misdemeanor).

In addition to the new charges, it was discovered that he had a Sussex County Family Court warrant out for failure to appear on a February 2024 resisting arrest charge. He was arraigned and remanded to the custody of Stevenson House Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of $7,900 bail.

This is an ongoing investigation.