Seaford Man In Custody After Fleeing From Police In Tractor Trailer

Location:  Mike's Clearance Center, 36404 Sussex Highway, Delmar, DE
Seaford Concrete, 20956 Coverdale Road, Bridgeville, DE

Date of Occurrence: Tuesday December 24, 2013 at approximately 2:50 a.m.

Defendant, Charges, and Bond Information:

Christopher N. Cornish, 44, Seaford, DE (Photo Attached)
Attempted Burglary 3rd
Theft of a Motor Vehicle
Criminal Mischief (2 counts)
Various Traffic Offenses

To be arraigned on these and other charges at a later date and time. He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $40,000.00 cash bond on four outstanding capiases for Violation of Probation.

Resume:
Delmar, DE- The Delaware State Police have arrested a Seaford man after he led them and other police agencies on an hour and a half long pursuit in a tractor trailer.

Troopers were called to Mike's Clearance Center located at 36404 Sussex Highway in Delmar, Delaware around 2:50 a.m. after a neighbor heard a noise coming from the business and observed a 10 wheeled day cab tractor had backed into the door of a shed on the property. As troopers and officers from Delmar Police Department were responding to the area, the subject, who was later identified as Christopher Cornish, drove off in the Peterbuilt truck but was followed by the witness who gave up to date locations of the large vehicle. Within minutes of the officers arrival, the truck fled into Maryland where troopers from Maryland State Police, officers from Salisbury Police Department, and Deputies from Wicomico County Sheriff's Office continued the pursuit. Approximately 45 minutes into the chase, the truck re-entered Delaware and began traveling north on US13. At one point the 10 wheeled vehicle began heading northbound in the southbound lanes just north of Seaford. The truck, which was now operating on flat tires due to Stop Stick devices deployed by agencies in Maryland, continued its attempt to elude law enforcement agencies at speeds less than 40 mph. The big rig then made a U-turn on Garden Lane and began heading southbound on US13 before entering into Seaford city limits where the vehicle came to a stop behind the McDonalds. Cornish was quickly taken into custody without further incident.

Further investigation revealed the 2013 Peterbuilt 10 wheeled day cab tractor had been stolen from Seaford Concrete located at 20956 Coverdale Road in Bridgeville earlier that night. The truck was then driven down to Delmar where Cornish was attempting to steal a vehicle that was being stored in the shed located at Mike's Clearance Center.

Christopher Cornish was transported back to Troop 5 in Bridgeville where he was arraigned and committed to SCI on $40,000 cash bond four capiases out of Sussex County Superior Court for Violation of Probation. A computer check revealed he was also wanted out of Troop 5 for incidents that occurred in early November and mid-December that included Receiving Stolen Property, Theft, and other traffic violations. He is also wanted out of Harrington Police Department, Bridgeville Police Department, and Seaford Police Department for various offenses. He will be formally charged with the above listed crimes at a later date and time. Agencies in Maryland may have additional charges stemming from the pursuit.