Delaware State Police

10/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/11/2024 13:27

Search Warrant in Dagsboro Leads to Arrest for Drug Offenses and Stolen Property

Date Posted: Friday, October 11th, 2024

Delaware State Police have arrested 62-year-old John Rickards of Dagsboro, Delaware, for multiple felony drug charges and receiving stolen property following a search warrant at a Dagsboro residence.

On October 10, 2024, members of the Sussex County Governor's Task Force and the Sussex County Drug Unit, executed a search warrant at a house on the 32000 block of Dupont Boulevard in Dagsboro. The search warrant was obtained following a three-month investigation of Rickards for a criminal nuisance property as well as the manufacturing and distribution of illegal narcotics. During the search warrant, detectives detained nine individuals that were located on the property, including Rickards.

A search of the property led to the discovery of the following items:

  • Approximately 197.02 grams marijuana
  • Approximately 2.03 grams cocaine
  • Approximately 2.85 grams of methamphetamines
  • Approximately 0.12 grams of crack cocaine
  • Drug paraphernalia and digital scales
  • $641 in suspected drug proceeds
  • Stolen John Deere Gator UTV
  • Several stolen power tools

After a search of the property, four of the nine individuals detained were arrested for misdemeanor offenses and capias warrants. The others were released without incident.

Rickards was taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $59,000 cash bond.

  • Operating a Clandestine Laboratory (Felony)
  • Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) - 3 counts
  • Maintaining a Drug Property (Felony)
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 1 (Felony)
  • Receiving Stolen Property over $1,500 (Felony)
  • Receiving Stolen Property under $1,500 - 3 counts
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - 3 counts
  • Criminal Nuisance - Maintaining a Place for Unlawful Conduct

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