On October 27, 2018, at about 1949 hours, Newark Police were dispatched to the area of South College Avenue, just north of Christina Parkway (SR 4), for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.  Arriving officers found that a 42 year-old female, who was crossing the roadway from the east side to the west side, had been struck by a vehicle while crossing the southbound lanes of South College Avenue.  The female was not in a marked crosswalk.  Officers found that the driver and striking vehicle were no longer on the scene.

The female pedestrian was transported to an area hospital by Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Company of Newark and New Castle County Paramedics.  She sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the hospital.

Upon investigation, officers learned that a family member of the pedestrian, Khory D. Spruill, assaulted the driver of the striking vehicle as he was exiting the vehicle to check on the pedestrian.  Spruill assaulted the driver by punching him multiple times in the head and face.  The driver was 77 years old.  In addition, Spruill damaged the driver’s vehicle by striking it.  Other bystanders assisted the driver back into his vehicle once the assault by Spruill ended and the driver fled the scene for his own safety.  The driver was later contacted by police and he declined medical attention, despite having suffered facial injuries from the assault.  He was not injured as a result of the crash.  The driver is not facing any charges.

Newark Police obtained an arrest warrant charging Spruill, 19 years-old, of Clinton, MD, with Assault Second Degree (a felony) and Criminal Mischief.  Spruill turned himself in to Newark Police on October 28, 2018.  Spruill appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 in New Castle and was released on $6,500 unsecured bail.

Anyone with information as to this incident is asked to contact Officer A. Vari at (302) 366-7100 x. 3486 or avari@newark.de.us.

Please see our tips page for additional ways to provide information to the police.

Khory D. Spruill

On Thursday October 25, 2018, a Newark Police officer was on routine patrol on East Main Street at approximately 9:15 p.m. The officer observed a vehicle pull out onto East Main Street and was driving with no headlights on. A traffic stop was initiated by the officer. The officer contacted a male driver who presented the officer with a piece of paper that contained a photocopied foreign driver’s license. The male claimed to be from the United Kingdom. The female passenger gave a conflicting account as to their identities. During a search of the vehicle, a large amount of United States Currency and Foreign currency was located. Also located in the vehicle were various bank account and legal documents containing multiple identities. Officers were unable to confirm either person’s identity and they were taken into custody.

During a search at NPD Headquarters, officers located 5 credit cards and 3 fictitious drivers licenses on the female, all of which contained the male’s picture. After further investigation, officers were able to identify the male driver as 49-year-old John A. Medina of Bronx, NY and the female passenger as 33-year-old Grace Umoffia of Bronx, NY.

Based upon the paperwork, credit cards, and fictitious drivers’ licenses, all of which had stolen identity’s on them, officers charged them with the following:

John A. Medina (No Photo Available)

Identity Theft (4 Counts)
Forgery 2^nd Degree (14 Counts)
Conspiracy 2^nd Degree
Driving Without Headlights

Grace Umoffia

Identity Theft (4 counts)
Conspiracy 2^nd Degree

John Medina was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #11 and issued $140,001 cash bond. Medina was transported to Howard R. Young Correctional Institute in lieu of bail.

Grace Umoffia was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #11 and issued $84,000 cash bond. Umoffia was transported to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute in lieu of bail.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Anderson at WAnderson@newark.de.us or 302-366-7100 ext. 3469 or Officer Vari at AVari@newark.de.us or 302-366-7100 ext. 3486.

Grace Umoffia