Newark Police Stolen Vehicle Investigation Leads to Arrest of Claymont Man and Recovery of Six Vehicles, Firearms, and Drugs
The Newark Police Department has arrested a Claymont man following an investigation into stolen vehicles, firearms, and illegal drugs.
The investigation began on April 16, 2026, at approximately 9:17 p.m., when Newark Police officers were on patrol and located a stolen vehicle in a parking lot of a business on the 600 block of South College Ave. Officers conducted an investigation and seized the stolen vehicle.
During the course of the investigation, they confirmed this vehicle had been in the possession of Marcel Cooper, 43, of Claymont, Delaware. As officers continued the investigation, they developed more information linking Cooper to additional stolen vehicles.
Officers obtained search warrants for Cooper’s residence in Claymont and for an auto body shop in Claymont that was linked to Cooper. On April 22, 2026, Newark Police officers conducted a search of his residence and of the business. Officers recovered five additional stolen vehicles, approximately $12,000 in cash, two firearms, ammunition, large-capacity magazines, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 1.81 pounds of marijuana.
Marcel J. Cooper, 43, of Claymont, was taken into custody and charged with the following offenses:
- Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited — 3 counts
- Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance — 1 count
- Removing a Vehicle Identification Number — 3 counts
- Concealing a Vehicle Identification Number — 3 counts
- Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 — 6 counts
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia — 1 count
- Possession of a Tier 1 Quantity of a Controlled Substance — 1 count
- Possession of an Assault Weapon — 2 counts
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Magazine — 2 counts
Cooper was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace Court #11 judge and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $93,000 cash bail.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Mitchell Holobowicz at 302-366-7110 ext. 3421 or at mholobowicz@newark.de.us
Additional methods for providing information to Newark Police can be found on our tips page, where reward information may also be available.
Newark Police to Participate in the 30th National Take Back Initiative – Saturday April 25, 2026
On Saturday April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Newark Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Controlled, non-controlled, and over-the-counter medications will be accepted.
Bring your medications for disposal to the Newark Police Department at 220 South Main Street in Newark. The disposal site cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps – only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous – no questions asked.
This event marks the DEA’s 30 th nationwide event since its inception over 10 years ago.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
According to the DEA:
- Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
- Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
- The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America.
- The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends —and the home medicine cabinet.
- Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed down the toilet contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
Sharps and syringes will NOT be accepted due to the potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens. Vape pens and other e-cigarette devices will only be accepted after the batteries have been removed. Newark PD is not responsible for removing the batteries.
For further information, visit DEATakeBack.com. The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here.
