Joint Agency Drug Units Seize Over 3,000 Bags Of Heroin And Arrest Five People

Date of Occurrence:   Wednesday July 3, 2013 starting at 6:00 a.m.

Defendant, Charges, and Bail Information:  

• Edward R. Hale, 30, Camden-Wyoming, DE (Photo Attached, black shirt, beard)

• Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule II Pills
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule III Pills
• Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited (2 counts)
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Arraigned at JP2 and released on $57,200.00 unsecured bond.

• William S. Friends, 38, Felton, DE

• Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin
• Possession of Heroin
• Resisting Arrest
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Driving While Suspended or Revoked

Arraigned at JP2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $122,700.00 cash bond.

• David E. Evans, 29, Dover, DE

• Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin
• Possession of Heroin
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule IV Pills
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule II Pills (2 counts)
• Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited (2 counts)
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number
• Possession of Marijuana
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Arraigned at JP2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $121,000.00 cash bond.

• Jahlil Patton, 20, Wilmington, DE

• Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin
• Possession of Heroin
• Conspiracy 2^nd
• Resisting Arrest
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Arraigned at JP7 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $131,500.00 cash bond.

• Alveda Alfred, 20, Wilmington, DE

• Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin
• Possession of Heroin
• Conspiracy 2^nd
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Arraigned at JP7 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $11,600.00 cash bond.

Resume:  

Kent County, DE- The Delaware State Police Kent County Drug Unit with the assistance of the Dover City Police Department have arrested five people after the culmination of a three month long investigation into dealing illegal drugs in the Camden and Dover area.

On Wednesday July 3, 2013, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the Kent County Drug Unit, with the assistance of the Dover Police Department Drug Unit, and Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (S.O.R.T.) executed a search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of Thicket Road, Camden-Wyoming.

Upon the troopers arrival at the house, Edward R. Hale was observed lying on the couch with his 5 year old daughter.  He quickly rose to his feet and attempted to flee into a bathroom where he was taken into custody without incident.  During the execution of the search warrant, detectives located 107 bags of heroin (2.675 grams total) packaged individually for sale, 20 Vyvanse Pills (Schedule II), 17 Amphetemine Pills (Schedule II), 11 Suboxone strips (Schedule III), drug paraphernalia as well as over $450.00 in suspected drug proceeds.  The 5 year old was turned over to a relative at the scene.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., detectives set up surveillance of the residence with the understanding that numerous drug transactions were to take place.  A silver Dodge Avenger arrived at the house and the operator, who was later identified as William S. Friends, exited the vehicle and approached the door to the house.  When he began to enter the house, SORT members announced their presence and Friends attempted to flee back to his car.  He was met by another team member who ordered him to the ground.  Friends failed to comply with the order and was subdued and taken into custody after the trooper deployed a divisionally issued Taser (Electronic Control Device).  A search of Friends’ vehicle revealed 650 bags of heroin totaling more than 16.25 grams.

At 12:40 p.m., a silver Pontiac Bonneville arrived at the Thicket Road home.  Detectives and SORT made contact with the operator, who was later identified as David E. Evans, in the driveway where he was taken into custody without incident.  A search of the vehicle revealed 1,012 bags of heroin totaling more than 25 grams, 1.5 grams of marijuana, 31 Clonazepam pills, 1 Focalin pill, a .32 caliber handgun with the serial number obliterated, and 56 rounds of ammunition.  He was also in possession of over $3,800.00 in suspected drug proceeds.

State Police and Dover PD detectives, along with DSP SORT, then responded to the Dover Inn Hotel located at 428 North DuPont Highway in Dover after information was received about another drug transaction about to take place.  Around 5:35 p.m., Jahlil Patton was observed knocking on a door to the hotel and when officers attempted to make contact with him, he fled on foot before being taken into custody without further incident near Lake Club Apartments.  While Patton was attempting to elude the officers, he was seen discarding several packages of heroin on the ground.  All 1,296 bags totaling more than 38 grams were located along with 4.5 grams of marijuana that was located in a car operated by Patton’s girlfriend, Alveda Alfred.  She was located in the parking lot of Advanced Auto and was taken into custody without incident.

Hale, Friends, and Evans were all transported back to Troop 3 near Camden where they were arrested for the above listed charges.  Hale was released on an unsecured bond while Friends and Evans were committed to JTVCC on $122,700.00 and $121,000.00 cash bails respectively.  Patton and Alfred were taken back to Dover PD where they were arrested for the above listed charges and turned over to the Department of Corrections on $131,500.00 and $11,600.00 cash bonds respectively.

This joint operation between Dover Police Department and Delaware State Police resulted in the recovery of 3,069 bags of heroin totaling more than 76 grams, 80 pills, 3 firearms along with several rounds of ammunition, and over $4,200.00 in suspected drug proceeds.