NEW CASTLE, DE — A Wilmington man is facing multiple felony charges after New Castle County police said he fled a traffic stop and crashed before officers allegedly recovered two loaded handguns and suspected drugs from the vehicle.
According to the New Castle County Division of Police, an officer assigned to Patrol B-Squad was conducting proactive patrol on North Dupont Highway at about 2:35 a.m. June 27 when the officer observed a Chevrolet Malibu traveling without a registration plate.
Police said the officer activated emergency equipment and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver allegedly failed to stop and fled into Wilmington before striking a curb and a small tree on South Justison Street.
After the vehicle stopped, responding officers apprehended the driver, identified as Lafel Crawford, 27, of Wilmington, without further incident, according to police.
While securing the vehicle, officers observed a handgun inside the car, police said. Investigators later determined the firearm was a loaded polymer handgun without a serial number, commonly referred to as a ghost gun, and that it was equipped with an illegal conversion device commonly known as a switch, which police said converted the weapon into a fully automatic firearm.
A subsequent search of the vehicle allegedly led officers to recover a second loaded handgun, several rounds of ammunition, approximately 2.74 grams of suspected crack cocaine, one suspected MDMA pill, approximately 6 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to police.
Investigators also determined that Crawford was allegedly prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction.
Crawford was charged with two counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a destructive weapon, disregarding a police officer’s signal, second-degree conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, leaving the scene of a property damage collision, driving while suspended, failure to have proof of insurance in possession and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
Court records show Crawford was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $58,800 cash bail.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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