State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security

 

Division of State Police

 

Superintendent Robert M. Coupe

Updated DSP News Release #2: Wednesday, August 12, 2009- Bicyclist Struck with Blow Dart on Limestone Road

 

New Castle County- Please see the photograph included below of the blow dart recovered in the Route 7 and Ocheltree Lane incident. 

 

 

 

Updated DSP News Release #1: Wednesday, August 12, 2009- Bicyclist Struck with Blow Dart on Limestone Road

 

New Castle County- Since the original report yesterday afternoon, in reference to the blow dart incident in Pike Creek, three more incidents have come to light.  A synopsis of each occurrence, chronologically, is provided below.

  • Monday, August 10th, at approximately 7:15 p.m.: a 27-year-old female victim was riding her bicycle on Route 71 in the area of the Red Lion Christian Academy when she was struck in the lower part of her back with a blow dart.  She was treated by her primary care doctor.
  • Monday, August 10th, at approximately 9:30 p.m., a 17-year-old male juvenile was riding his bicycle on Route 40 at Wrangle Hill Road when he was struck with a blow dart in the left hand.  This subject was treated at Christiana Hospital and will require surgery to repair the damage to his hand.
  • Tuesday, August 11th, at approximately 10:40 a.m., a 36-year-old male victim was riding his bicycle on Route 7 at Ocheltree Lane when he was struck in the led with a blow dart.  He was treated by his primary care doctor.  (This incident was originally reported to the media yesterday morning and that news release is included below)
  • Tuesday, August 11th, at approximately 5:00 p.m., a 29-year-old female victim was jogging on Route 7, just north of Route 72, when she was struck in the calf by a blow dart.  She was going to seek treatment at her primary care physician. 

 

Possible suspect vehicle descriptions include the following:

·        Full size Ford pick up truck

·        Small white pick up truck

·        Dark colored pick up truck with two male occupants

·        Black Mazda 4-door sedan

 

These cases remain under investigation and are now in the hands of a Delaware State Police detectives.  Tips can be provided via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

 

 

 

Original DSP News Release: Tuesday, August 11, 2009- Bicyclist Struck with Blow Dart on Limestone Road

 

Location: Limestone Road, south of Ocheltree Lane, Pike Creek, Wilmington, Delaware, New Castle County

 

Date of Occurrence: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at 11:00 a.m.

 

Suspect(s): None at this time

 

Resume: In one of the stranger reported cases of late, a male subject notified 911 earlier today to report being struck by a blow dart. 

 

The 36-year-old male victim in this case advised he was riding his bike northbound on Route 7, south of Ocheltree Lane, when he felt a sudden and unexpected pain in his right thigh.

 

The victim looked down and observed a blow dart protruding from his leg.  The victim removed the item and found it was approximately four inches in length. He reported that 3/4 of the dart had actually entered his body. 

 

Being that this incident was unexpected, the victim advised he was not necessarily looking out for suspicious persons or vehicles and only remembers seeing a full size pick up truck passing him on Route 7 at the time he was injured. 

 

The victim elected to seek treatment at his family doctor.

 

Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

 

A photograph of a blow dart similar to that which was used in this incident in attached to this release. 

 

 

State Police Home page | State of Delaware Home Page

This page is maintained by

Sergeant Walter Newton

Public Information Office