Motorist Tip Leads to Delaware City Man Being Charged with 5th Offense DUI

Lewes, DE - The Delaware State Police arrested a Delaware City man yesterday evening for a 5th offense DUI.

The incident occurred around 4:20 p.m. Sunday February 15, 2015, as a concerned motorist notified the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center (9-1-1) about a light colored pick-up truck driving southbound on Coastal Highway (SR1) approaching Lewes-Georgetown Highway (US9) all over the roadway. A general bulletin was broadcast and a trooper on patrol in the area was able to locate the vehicle in the area of SR1 and US9. The trooper observed the truck as it turned westbound on US9 and then southbound on Plantations Road before attempting to perform a traffic stop. The pick-up truck initially came to a stop on the shoulder of Plantations Road, north of Robinsonville Road, but prior to the trooper being able to make contact with the driver, the vehicle re-entered the southbound lanes as if to flee. The operator continued driving southbound for a short period and then came to a stop again just south of Robinsonville Road.

When the trooper approached the driver’s side of the white Dodge pick-up and requested the male operator to exit the vehicle, he attempted to place the gear shift in drive in an attempt to flee again, but was physically removed and placed in custody without further incident.

Vernon L. Wilson Jr., 60 of Delaware City, was the lone occupant of the truck. Troopers were able to detect an odor of alcohol and a DUI investigation ensued. Wilson was subsequently transported back to Troop 7 where an inquiry into his driving record revealed four previous DUI convictions (12/05/89, 05/31/91, 07/09/09, and 11/08/00); this arrest would make #5.

Vernon Wilson was charged with 5th Offense Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Disregarding a Police Officer’s Signal, and various other traffic offenses. He was arraigned a JP3 and incarcerated at Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $19,104.00 cash bond.