Troopers Arrest Four Suspects Following Pursuit-Bridgeville

Justin I. Cooper

Mario A. Ponce

Jennifer A. Llamas

Wilfredo N. Rodriguez

Bridgeville–  The Delaware State Police with the assistance of the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, Millsboro Police Department, Bridgeville Police Department and Georgetown Police Department have arrested four suspects after they led police on a chase in a stolen motor vehicle.

The incident occurred on July 14, 2019 at approximately 6:35 a.m., when Troopers were made aware that the Maryland State Police where in pursuit of a stolen motor vehicle, a blue Honda Civic, that had fled into Delaware.  The vehicle was subsequently located in Delaware traveling northbound on Dupont Boulevard in the area of Patriots Way.  An attempt was made to stop the vehicle which continued to drive recklessly and flee from police.

The vehicle came to a stop on Sussex Highway and Redden Road, when a passenger exited the vehicle and proceeded to take off on foot.  A foot pursuit ensued with the passenger, identified as 16-year-old Justin I. Cooper of Clinton, MD, when he struck a Bridgeville K-9 in an attempt to resist being taken into custody.  Cooper was subsequently apprehended.

The vehicle continued to flee and was later located unoccupied on Walnut Street in Bridgeville.  A concerned citizen had reported seeing occupants flee from the vehicle and enter a detached shed on a property.  Troopers located three subjects hiding in the shed and took them into custody without further incident.  The three suspects were identified as the driver, 16-year-old Mario Ponce of Lenham, MD, 16-year-old Jennifer A. LLamas of Lenham, MD, and 19-year-old Wilfredo N. Rodriguez of Collage Park, MD.  All of the suspects were transported back to Troop 5 where they were charged with the following:

Justin Cooper:

•  Resisting Arrest
•  Assault Second Degree on Law Enforcement Animal

Cooper was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Vision Quest Center on $1,500.00 secured bond.

Mario Ponce:

• Burglary Third Degree
• Receiving Stolen Property
• Resisting Arrest
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Reckless Driving
• Failure to Stop (Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police charge)

Ponce was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Vision Quest Center on $2,600.00 secured bond.

Jennifer LLamas:

• Burglary Third
• Resisting Arrest
• Conspiracy Second Degree

Llamas was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and released on her own recognizance.

Wilfredo N. Rodriguez

• Burglary Third Degree
• Resisting Arrest
• Conspiracy Second Degree

Rodriguez was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution $3,000.00 secured bond.