Traffic Alert – Memorial Day Parade 5/18/25
The Newark Memorial Day Parade is this Sunday, May 18. The parade route will close Delaware Avenue between South Main Street and South Chapel Street. The entire length of East Main Street will be closed between Library Avenue and South College Avenue. South College Ave will be closed north of Park Place except for local traffic.
Road closures are expected to be implemented around 12:30 pm and extend until 3:00 pm.
HEAVY TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED ON SURROUNDING STREETS DUE TO THE DETOURS. Use an alternate route and expect delays.
Newark Police Investigate Two DUI-Related Incidents Resulting in Officer Injuries
Over the weekend of May 3, 2025, the Newark Police Department investigated two separate unrelated DUI-related incidents that resulted in the arrests of two individuals and injuries to three officers.
Incident 1 – May 3, 2025, at 4:03 A.M.
Officers observed a vehicle committing multiple traffic violations in the area of West Chestnut Hill Road, and conducted a motor vehicle stop. During the investigation, officers identified the driver as Jacob Rahme, 23, of Wilmington. Field Sobriety Tests were administered, and officers determined there was sufficient evidence to arrest Rahme for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). When officers attempted to take Rahme into custody, he actively resisted and assaulted two officers. Both officers sustained injuries during the struggle before Rahme was successfully detained and transported to Newark Police Headquarters.
Rahme was charged with the following offenses:
- Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol
- Assault 2nd Degree – Injure a Law Enforcement Officer (2 counts)
- Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence Resulting in Injury to a Peace Officer
- Driving the Wrong Way on a One-Way Road
- Driving Across a Median
- Failure to Maintain a Single Lane
Rahme was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and was released on $7,574 unsecured bail.
Incident 2 – May 3, 2025, at 11:37 P.M.
In an unrelated incident later that evening, officers responded to a welfare check at a business on the 800 block of South College Avenue for a report of a vehicle idling in the drive-through lane. Officers located the driver, Nicholas Dionisi, 37, of Newark, asleep in the driver’s seat. Upon making contact, officers observed signs of impairment and conducted Field Sobriety Tests. Based on their findings, officers attempted to place Dionisi under arrest.
Dionisi resisted arrest, pulling away from officers during handcuffing. One officer sustained an injury during the struggle. Dionisi was eventually taken into custody and transported to Newark Police Headquarters.
Dionisi was charged with the following offenses:
- Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (3rd Offense)
- Assault 2nd Degree – Injure a Law Enforcement Officer
- Resisting Arrest
He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and issued a $5,500 cash bond. Dionisi was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of bond.
