Detectives Arrest Two Suspects in Seaford Home Invasion as well as The Two Victims for Drugs

Seaford, DE- The Delaware State Police have arrested two men in connection with a May 1st home invasion style robbery as well as two victims inside the house for possession of heroin.

The incident took place Thursday May 1, 2014 around 12:15 a.m. as a 9-1-1 call was received from a residence in the 24000 block of Jewell Street reporting a home invasion with shots fired. An alert trooper responding to the area observed a Volvo brand vehicle fleeing the scene and was stopped by the trooper at the end of Jewell Street. The operator, Kentae D. Watts, 27 of Laurel, and a passenger, Daleton R. Truitt, 31 of Bridgeville were taken into custody without incident. At the time of the stop, two 9mm magazines were located on the passenger's side of the vehicle.

Additional troopers responded to the residence on Jewell Street and came in contact with the victims who called 9-1-1. The investigation revealed a 37 year old male victim and a 27 year old female victim, who reside at the domicile, were in the back bedroom of the house when the male heard his dogs start barking. The male victim, who was later identified as Kevin E. Barnes, looked down the hallway towards the front door and observed a male wearing all black holding an assault style rifle. He instructed the female victim, identified as Laura L. Taylor, to call 9-1-1 as he retrieved a handgun from his dresser. Once he had the handgun, he returned to the hallway just as the front door was forcibly entered and gunshots rang out from the rear of the residence. Barnes then began to fire several shots at the front door and then in the direction of where the incoming shots were heard. It was later determined that the suspects soon fled the area in the Volvo and were eventually stopped by arriving troopers.

Detectives from Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit, Drug Task Force, and crime scene investigators from the troop's Evidence Detection Unit assumed the investigation and were able to recover two of the weapons in the surrounding area that were discarded by Watts and Truitt. A handgun was determined to be stolen in a burglary that was committed in the Laurel area back in March of 2013. The second gun was a 9mm assault style weapon that matched up with the magazines found in the Volvo.

A search warrant was later conducted on the residence where Barnes and Taylor live after it was determined there were drugs and weapons inside. Detectives located over 7,300 bags of heroin totaling more than 110 grams, 137 grams of marijuana, $5,000.00 in suspected drug proceeds, and three handguns.

Kentae Watts and Daleton Truitt were both charged with Attempted Robbery 1st, two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Home Invasion, Burglary 1st, two counts of Recklessly Endangering 1st, Receiving a Stolen Firearm, Conspiracy 2nd, and Criminal Mischief. They were arraigned at JP2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $140,000.00 and $157,000.00 cash bond respectively.

Kevin Barnes and Laura Taylor were both charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Heroin), Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, three counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited, Conspiracy 2nd, Possession of Marijuana, and three counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Barnes was committed to SCI and Taylor was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution on $53,500.00 secured bond each.