WILMINGTON, DE — A 17-year-old juvenile faces multiple felony charges after New Castle County Police allege detectives recovered a loaded handgun and approximately 80 grams of marijuana during a stop in the Edgemoor Gardens community.
Police reported that detectives with the Active Crime Trends Team were conducting proactive patrols at approximately 8:24 p.m. Aug. 11 when they observed the juvenile allegedly committing a pedestrian violation.
Detectives stopped him on Salisbury Drive and identified him as a 17-year-old, according to police. Investigators reported that probable cause was subsequently developed to search a backpack he was carrying.
Police allege detectives recovered approximately 80 grams of marijuana and a loaded 9mm handgun equipped with an extended magazine from inside the backpack.
Investigators further determined that the juvenile was prohibited from possessing or carrying a firearm because of previous felony convictions, according to police.
The juvenile was taken into custody and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters.
He was charged with two felony counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited and one felony count each of possession of a firearm by a person under 21, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
Police also charged him with misdemeanor possession of marijuana other than a personal-use quantity, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to carry a light on a public roadway, pedestrian on a roadway when a sidewalk is available and a civil violation involving possession of a large-capacity magazine.
The juvenile was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to a juvenile detention center after failing to post $86,002 cash bail, according to police.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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