19-Year-Old Newark Resident Arrested in Swatting Incident

Joseph McelweeJoseph Mcelwee /Submitted Image

NEWARK, DE — The New Castle County Division of Police announced the arrest of a 19-year-old resident following a swatting incident.

Joseph Mcelwee of Newark has been charged with one felony count of terroristic threatening, one felony count of providing a false statement to law enforcement, one felony count of conspiracy in the second degree, and one misdemeanor count of falsely reporting an alleged incident to law enforcement.

The criminal complaint alleges that on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 7:06 p.m., Patrol Officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of Grafton Drive in reference to a report of three males armed with firearms running into an apartment building. Officers immediately responded to the area and cleared the complex. It was later determined that the call was fake. Due to the response, a perimeter was established, roadways were blocked, and apartment complex residents were inconvenienced.

Officers on the scene continued the investigation and were able to identify and locate the alleged original caller. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Joseph Mcelwee of Newark. Mcelwee was taken into custody without incident. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $3,500.00 secured bail.

Information, a criminal complaint, or an arrest is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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