On Friday, April 24, 2026, at approximately 2:57 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance at a church parking lot located on the 300 block of East Main Street.

The investigation determined that Eric Pitts, 54, of Newark, had been involved in an earlier altercation with an acquaintance at a separate location on East Main Street. Hours later, the disagreement resumed at the 300 block location and escalated.

During the incident, Pitts produced a box cutter-style knife and slashed the victim’s neck, causing serious injuries. Responding officers immediately rendered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital via ambulance, treated for serious injuries, and later released.

Pitts fled the scene prior to police arrival. Officers quickly located him a short distance away at a nearby bus stop, where he was taken into custody without incident. The weapon was subsequently recovered after Pitts discarded it.

Pitts was transported to Newark Police Department headquarters and charged with the following:

• Assault 1st Degree
• Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony

He was arraigned before a judge at the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after being issued $30,000 secured bail.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant james Skinner at 302-366-7110 ext. 3135 or at jskinner@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.

Pitts, Eric

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.