Two Arrested in Millsboro Robberies

Matthew R. Edwards

Millsboro - The Delaware State Police have arrested two Frankford men in connection with a pair of robberies and other crimes.

Around 3:43 a.m. Wednesday January 18, 2017, troopers were dispatched to the Royal Farms, located at 26672 Johns J. Williams Highway (SR24), for a report of a robbery that just occurred.  This investigation reveal that a male entered the store armed with an unknown type handgun with a mask covering his face and demanded money from the register.  The female clerk complied with the demand and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash before he fled in an unknown direction.

As troopers were investigating that incident, a second robbery occurred around 4:31 a.m. at the Dash Inn, located at 24851 John J. Williams Highway.  In this incident, a male subject entered the store and pulled an unknown type handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the female clerk.  He demanded cash and upon opening the cash drawer, the female victim fled the store and entered her car.  The suspect removed the cash and then fled the business in a vehicle, which was soon broadcast across the police radio.

Zack Umstead

 Troopers responding to the second robbery were on the lookout for the vehicle, which was described as a Kia Rio, and located it driving eastbound on SR24 west of Warrington Road.  Upon attempting to conduct a traffic stop, the car continued eastbound and items which were later located to be handguns, could be seen thrown out of the window.  The vehicle finally came to a stop on Warrand Matthew R. Edwards, 19, and Zack Umstead, 20, both of Frankford, were taken into custody without further incident.

Through the investigation it was revealed that the Kia Rio was stolen earlier that evening from a residence located on West Alabama Drive in Frankford.  The two handguns were also stolen from a residence in Bethany Meadows on Tuesday January 17, 2017.

Matthew Edwards and Zack Umstead were both transported back to Troop 4 in Georgetown where they were charged with two counts of Robbery 1st, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony Conspiracy 2nd, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Receiving a Stolen Firearm, and various other charges.  They were arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $164,500.00 cash (Edwards) and $183,002.00 cash.

None of the victims were injured in any of the incidents.