Four arrested following suspicious vehicle investigation

HARBESON, Del. – Four people have been arrested following a suspicious vehicle investigation early Wednesday morning.

At around 5:50 a.m., troopers say they responded to Phillips Branch Road, east of Indian Mission Road, after receiving a call of a suspicious vehicle in the area. Troopers were advised that it appeared a woman had been involved in an altercation with two men outside of the car.

Troopers located a 2016 blue Honda Civic and made contact with the four occupants. Police say the driver, identified as 19-year-old Samuel Mondestin, had a suspicious item visibility protruding from his sock, which was discovered to be a small bottle containing approximately 5.01 grams of cocaine. He was also found to be in possession of ammunition and approximately 0.028 grams of suspected heroin.

After the drugs were discovered, troopers asked the other three occupants to step out of the vehicle. Both rear passengers, identified as 19-year-old Witley Francin and 18-year-old Ryan Simpson, allegedly did not comply and physically resisted arrest. Troopers were able to take both into custody a short time later. A search of Francin led to the discovery of approximately 5.99 grams of crack cocaine, and a search of Simpson led to the discovery of a pair of brass knuckles and 14 prescription pills. The front seat passenger, identified as 20-year-old Jocelyn Flores-Estrada, also resisted arrest, but was taken into custody at the scene.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a loaded handgun and approximately 2.43 grams of marijuana. The handgun had been reported stolen by the Dover Police Department in August 2022. Mondestin was also found to be violating an active court order prohibiting him from possessing firearms.

Mondestin and Francin were both held at SCI on various bonds. Simpson was released on a $2,000 unsecured bond, while Flores-Estrada was released on her own recognizance.