On September 29, 2019, at about 2301 hours, Newark Police responded to the 300 block of Terrace Drive for a report of shots fired.  Upon arrival, officers contacted subjects in the area.  The investigation revealed that a group of subjects, who were all known to each other, standing outside of a residence.  Two of the subjects began to have a disagreement.  One of the subjects, later identified as George McCullough, 27, of Newark, went into his residence and came back outside a short time later.  McCullough then proceeded to point a handgun towards the ground in the area of the victim and fired one round.  The victim, a 31 year-old male, was not injured.  McCullough then fled the area.

Officers located a shell casing on the ground in addition to a fired bullet.  A warrant was subsequently obtained for McCullough’s arrest.

On September 30, 2019, McCullough turned himself in at Newark Police Headquarters.  He was charged with Reckless Endangering in the First Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.  McCullough appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #2 by video and was released on $13,000 unsecured bail.

Over the past 10 days, Newark Police have seen an increase in vehicle thefts.  The following thefts have occurred:

• 09/21/19 at 2200 hours to 09/22/19 at 0630 hours in the unit block of Benny Street – A gray 2017 Jeep Wrangler, PA KGN5115, was stolen from in front of the residence.  A spare key had been left inside the locked vehicle.  The vehicle has not been recovered.
• 09/22/19 between 0030 and 0900 hours in the unit block of East Cleveland Avenue – A silver 2001 Honda CRV, DE PC181138, was stolen from outside the residence.  The vehicle was locked at the time of the theft.  The vehicle has not been recovered.  The below pictured subject was observed on surveillance video entering the area of the residence just before the vehicle was taken:

• 09/23/19 at 2030 hours to 09/24/19 at 1100 hours in the 200 block of South Chapel Street – A black 2012 VW Jetta, NY JGW5146, was stolen from outside the residence.  A spare key had been left inside the locked vehicle.  The vehicle has not been recovered.  A credit card stolen from within the vehicle was used later that day at the Christiana Mall.  The suspect first observed using the card was a black male with a light-colored shirt with letters across the front and denim pants with holes.  This photo of the suspect is from a surveillance camera at the mall:

The same suspect, along with two other males, was observed using cards stolen from the vehicle at an additional location in Christiana Mall (photo below).  The suspects are described as:

1. 1. 1. 1. A tall black male,  20-25 yoa, about 6’1″, short dark hair, thin build and wearing a dark colored Calvin Klein windbreaker
         2. A short black male, 20-25 yoa, about 5’3″ – 5’5″, thin athletic build, tattoos on both hands and wearing a dark sweatshirt with New York City or Nike written across the front
         3. A black male, 20-25 yoa, 5’4″ – 5’5″, heavy set, short dark hair and wearing a gray shirt with white lettering across the front

• 09/23/19 at 1830 hours to 09/24/19 at 1414 hours in the unit block of North Chapel Street – A suspect entered the victim’s residence, removed the vehicle keys from within the residence and stole the victim’s vehicle.  The vehicle is a silver 2015 Mercedes 350.  There was no forced entry into the residence. The vehicle was recovered in Elkton, MD on 09/25/19, undamaged, and returned to the owner.  Newark Police Detectives reviewed area surveillance video and identified a suspect in this incident.  A Newark Police Officer observed the suspect in the surveillance video and identified him as Derrick Sudler, 40, whose last address is unknown.  On September 26, 2019, a warrant was obtained charging Sudler with Burglary Second Degree, Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Theft Under $1500.  On September 28, 2019, Sudler was arrested by the Elkton (Maryland) Police Department on this warrant.  Sudler is being held at the Cecil County (Maryland) Detention Center pending his extradition back to Delaware.  Sudler’s involvement in other thefts is still under investigation.
• 09/25/19 at 1800 hours to 09/26/19 at 1051 hours in the unit block of West Park Place – A gray Subaru Legacy was stolen from the rear of the residence.  The vehicle had been left unlocked with a spare key inside.  The vehicle was recovered later that day at a motel on West Avenue in New Castle.  Investigation at the motel identified a suspect who had been driving the vehicle.  Warrants for the arrest of that suspect are pending.  The vehicle was returned to its owner.
• 09/27/19 at 2300 hours to 09/28/19 at 1100 hours in the unit block of Prospect Avenue – A blue Chevrolet Cobalt, NJ ZSB76W, was stolen from the residence.  The vehicle was locked at the time.  The vehicle has not been recovered.

The public is reminded to lock their vehicle, park in a well-lit area and not to leave a key to the vehicle inside.  These are additional tips to prevent vehicle theft and thefts from vehicles:

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Det. D. Bystricky at (302) 366-7100 x. 3136 or dbystricky@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.