State Police K9 Assists In Locating Stolen Firearms

Location: 7000 block of Gum Branch Road, Seaford, DE

Date of Occurrence: Thursday January 10, 2013 at approximately 10:10 a.m.

Victim:

36 year old male

Defendant, Charges, and Bond Information:

William R. Hawkins 3rd, 22, Blades, DE (Photo Attached)
Burglary 2nd
Theft of a Firearm (7 counts)
Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (8 counts)
Possession of Burglar Tools
Criminal Mischief

Arraigned at JP2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $108,500.00 secured bond.

Resume:
Seaford, DE- The Delaware State Police have arrested a 22 year old Blades man after he was found in possession of stolen guns.

The incident occurred on Thursday January 10th after State Police were called to the area of Clark Road near Seaford for a suspicious subject carrying a blanket with possible long guns inside. When a trooper arrived in the area, he located a subject on nearby River Road matching the description of the subject that was broadcast over the radio. William R. Hawkins 3rd was contacted by the trooper but was not in possession of any blanket or guns. A computer inquiry was conducted on Hawkins and he was released after it was determined he was not wanted.

Within 45 minutes of the first call, the Emergency Operations Center was given additional information from the original caller that the subject may have discarded the blanket and guns in some woods. The trooper responded back to the area of Clark Road where the subject was first seen and with the help of his K9 “Cid,” was able to successfully track to the location where the guns were hidden. The trooper and “Cid” located seven various types of guns ranging from shotguns to rifles and ammunition all wrapped inside a blanket.

The trooper then responded to Hawkins residence in Blades where he was taken into custody without incident. Hawkins was transported back to Troop 5 where detectives from Troop 4 assisted with the investigation. It was determined through investigative measures that Hawkins had burglarized a residence in the 7000 block of Gum Branch Road earlier that morning and removed the weapons. He then wrapped the guns in a blanket and began walking to his residence in Blades before discarding them in the woods off Clark Road. The 36 year old victim, who was not at home at the time, was unaware of the burglary and theft until detectives responded to his house to examine the crime scene.

Hawkins was arraigned on the above listed charges and incarcerated in SCI in lieu of $108,500.00 secured bond.