FREDERICA, DE — A predawn traffic stop attempt on a speeding Lexus turned into a brief pursuit, an alleged drug discard and a struggle with officers before a Philadelphia man was taken into custody early Friday in Frederica, Delaware, state police said.
The Delaware State Police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Marquan Mack of Philadelphia, who is facing felony and related charges after troopers said he refused to stop for police and later provided false identifying information in an effort to conceal active warrants.
According to police, at approximately 2 a.m. on January 30, a trooper patrolling Bay Road near Barratts Chapel Road observed a Lexus ES300 traveling southbound at a high rate of speed. When the trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, police said the driver did not pull over and a pursuit began.
Authorities said the driver accelerated further, prompting troopers to terminate the pursuit due to public safety concerns. The Delaware State Police Communications Section then alerted surrounding agencies about the fleeing vehicle.
A short time later, officers from the Milford Police Department located the Lexus disabled near North Street and Dupont Boulevard in Milford, police said. Investigators allege that as officers approached, the driver threw a baggie containing an unknown substance from the vehicle.
Troopers responded to assist and, after what police described as a brief struggle, Mack was taken into custody. A search of the surrounding area led to the recovery of the discarded baggie, which police said contained approximately 3.5 grams of suspected powder cocaine.
Further investigation, police said, indicated Mack allegedly provided false identifying information to troopers in an attempt to conceal active warrants — including an alleged violation of parole warrant in New Jersey and an alleged violation of probation warrant in Pennsylvania. Troopers also reported observing signs of impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.
Mack was transported to Troop 3, where he was charged with providing a false statement to law enforcement with intent to delay or hinder a felony investigation, disregarding a police officer’s signal (both felonies), resisting arrest, possession/consumption of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving at 90 mph or greater, and driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs, along with related traffic offenses.
He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $6,001 secured bond, police said.
All charges are allegations. Mack is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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