NEWARK, DE — New Castle County Police arrested a Wilmington man Monday after investigators alleged he forced his way into a Newark business, assaulted an individual, and later fled from officers during a traffic stop attempt.
According to police, officers responded at approximately 10:20 a.m. Friday, May 15, to a business in the unit block of Marrows Road for a reported disturbance.
Investigators alleged 31-year-old Oliver Cephas Jr. forcibly entered the business and physically confronted an individual inside.
Police reported Cephas also allegedly damaged the tires of another person’s vehicle before returning to the business and attempting to enter a second time. According to investigators, Cephas allegedly damaged the business door, forced his way inside, assaulted an individual, stole property, and fled before officers arrived.
As officers responded to the area, another officer observed Cephas allegedly operating a pickup truck and attempted a traffic stop, police said. Investigators reported Cephas allegedly refused to stop and fled at a high rate of speed before escaping from view.
According to police, the investigation was later assigned to detectives with the Fugitive Apprehension and Surveillance Team and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Detectives located Cephas on Cedar Street in Wilmington on Monday, May 18, and took him into custody, investigators said.
Police reported Cephas was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with the following offenses:
- Two felony counts of disregarding a police officer’s signal
- One felony count of burglary in the second degree
- One misdemeanor count of assault in the third degree
- Two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief over $1,000
- One misdemeanor count of theft under $1,500
- One misdemeanor count of resisting arrest
According to police, Cephas was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $24,000.00 cash bail.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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