Delaware State News

SMYRNA — A 27-year-old Dagsboro man was arrested Tuesday in connection with robbery charges after allegedly stealing $1,200 from a bingo event and injuring an elderly woman, police said.

Delaware State Police spokesman Sgt. Joshua A. Bushweller said officers responded to the Mamie A. Warren Senior Center at 1775 Wheatleys Pond Road in Smyrna after a robbery had been reported.

Sgt. Bushweller said Katrial L. West and another unknown man entered the building through an open rear door at about 9:15 p.m., wearing all black with long, hooded jackets and knit caps covering their faces with eye holes cut out.

One of the men immediately knocked a telephone off the wall, preventing anyone from calling 911, Sgt. Bushweller said. The men then confronted a 75-year-old Hartly woman who was managing the money from about 60 bingo players.

Sgt. Bushweller said one robber grabbed the tray containing about $1,200 from the woman as bingo players watched the incident unfold. When the woman grabbed the man to prevent him from leaving with the money, he twisted her arm and hit her in the head. The woman received bruises to her arm and head but was not taken to the hospital.

As the two men fled through the rear door, a 49-year-old Newark man, who was playing bingo at the time, chased after them. Sgt. Bushweller said Mr. West picked up a large stick, raised it in an aggressive manner towards the Newark man and insinuated he would strike him if he continued the pursuit.

The Newark man stopped chasing the robbers as they fled the area on foot. While police were searching for the robbers, a 911 caller from the 1800 block of Mount Friendship Road said a man fitting Mr. West’s description was banging on the door, asking to use the telephone, he said.

A Clayton police officer, who was assisting with the search, responded to the call, and after a short foot pursuit, apprehended Mr. West without further incident, Sgt. Bushweller said.

Afterward, Mr. West was positively identified as one of the culprits in the robbery, Sgt. Bushweller said. The other robber, who was not found, is described as a black male, 5-foot-7, average build, wearing a dark-colored zip-up jacket, dark pants and a dark-colored knit cap with eye holes cut out.

Sgt. Bushweller said that, while the robbers were fleeing, they dropped the cash tray and the senior center recovered $715 of the stolen money.

This crime is indicative of how desperate criminals have become, Sgt. Bushweller said. It’s unorthodox for a senior-citizen center to be the target of a robbery. The fact that elderly citizens who are on a fixed income were targeted in this case is a reflection of what some criminals will do to get money, he said.

"We are grateful for the citizens who chose to help us in apprehending these persons and admire their willingness to collectively work together to solve this crime," he said. "It exemplifies what can be accomplished when the police and public work together."

"We encourage citizens to be great witnesses and to gather as much detail about the suspect in a crime to provide police," Sgt. Bushweller said. "We don’t want citizens to put themselves in danger and would caution anyone against pursuing or resisting a violent criminal. In those circumstances, we would ask the good Samaritan to be a detailed witness and avoid any risk of injury."

Mr. West, of 28801 W. Diamond Drive in Dagsboro, was charged with first-degree robbery, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, second-degree conspiracy and related charges. He was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $41,500 secured bond.

Anyone with information on the identity of the other robber is asked to contact police at 697-2104 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.